text: Thinking that it's Heather, you spring from your chair, and open it.
  
  And you're met by a woman, one you even know, but not Heather.
  
  "... Isabella?" you say upon seeing her.
  
  Isabella frowns as you just stare at her naked body in surprise.
  
  "Glad you remember what my tits look like." She says.
  "... Apologies, but I really wasn't expecting you. I thought another... nevermind, what are you doing here?" you ask.
  "I'm here to speak to Ral... what the hell happened to you? You're as pale as I am and you're giving off some serious cold. This whole house is, given the frost and ice in the area. What the hell IS Ral doing in there?"
  "Well... "
  "Look, no offense, but I'm not in the mood to speak to his magic slave. I want you to go bring his ass out of his lab to come speak to me right now. I mean I thought we had an understanding at least that if we HAD to be neighbors he wouldn't fuck things up for me. Now I got a bunch of dead people in Dert due to his escaped manticore or pet or experiment or whatever the fuck. I told him that backwards dung heap of a hamlet was MY ongoing food source and was not to be messed with."
  "Wait, Spikey attacked Dert?"
  "Spikey? That its name? Real original. But yeah it was a damn blood bath there. Hell, I could smell it even from my crypt. The beast killed ten people. I would have tracked it down easily, but considering its scent was also leading in this direction, I'd pay Ral a visit first since I was sure this was all his fault. And judging from what I'm seeing, I was right. So get his ass out here!"
  "That's going to be a problem given that he's dead."
  "Dead? Bullshit."
  "I'm serious. He's been dead for like two years now."
  
  Now Isabella is the one showing some surprise. The fact that she is surprised means you must have really caught he off guard. You remember that Ral and her had a relationship in the past. From some of her brief sad expression, she perhaps didn't have complete loathing for him.
  
  Isabella looks down a bit and closes her eyes before speaking again.
  
  "(Sigh) Damn. Didn't think I'd still feel something for the bastard, but I guess you never know until it happens. I guess this means you're no longer a magic slave and you're in fact responsible for this mess then. How? You're no wizard. And how did you kill Ral anyway?" Isabella asks.
  "I didn't kill Ral, he just died of natural causes in his bed." You quickly say.
  "Hah! Nice try, but you're lying. Look, I don't care if you killed him, if he'd made me a slave I'd have killed him too."
  "Well, I had help and it wasn't easy."
  "I'm sure. So what's with the eternal winter here?"
  "Ral's last gift to me."
  
  You give a quick explanation of events of your condition to Isabella who listens to everything.
  
  "So... it was this Heather was the one you were waiting for then?" Isabella asks.
  "Yeah, but well... that's a long story." You say with a sigh.
  "Let me guess you fell for your nurse."
  "She wasn't a nurse, she was a priestess."
  "Nurse, priestess, whore, doesn't matter. Your circumstance is as old as time. You fell for the one taking care of you when nobody else would. It happens a lot, but I think your case its just desperation."
  "Excuse me?"
  "Well, you've been waiting for this girl for two months you said. It's obvious she isn't coming back."
  "She could just be busy! There's a religious war going on in Holgard right now! You know, we made love the last time I saw her!"
  "And? That probably was just a goodbye pity fuck. Look, I didn't see how you two interacted and I'm only getting some of what you're telling me, so I'm not going to say this girl didn't have feelings for you, but its obvious she cares more about herself or at least her own life."
  "You don't know shit!" you snap.
  "Okay, look, whatever. I actually don't care that much, but we still need to settle this issue with your pet manticore along with your snowman condition because both of them are going to fuck up my shit. The manticore can be settled easily since I can just kill the beast and be done with it. But you are a whole other problem."
  "Wait a minute you can't just kill my pet! And why the hell am I a problem, I don't even go near Dert."
  "Yeah, but your aura might. I mean from what little you've told me, your condition is getting worse and if that's the case, the last thing I need is for it to freeze over Dert and cause all the peasants there to pick up and leave due to failed crops. It's bad enough some are already talking about leaving due to the manticore attack. Others are even talking about hiring adventurers. Last thing I need is a group of fortune seekers stomping around the area and stumbling on my place of rest."
  "I'm sure you'd be able to handle them."
  "That's not the damn point, my point is I like things peaceful and they can't be, if there are certain elements in the area fucking everything up! So the way I see it, is you got two choices. You either leave, or I cure you."
  
  Once again Isabella has given you a little surprise.
  
  "What? You can cure me? How?!" you ask.
  "Invite me in and I'll show you." Isabella responds with a smile.
  "Uh... no... things aren't quite bad enough for me to want to commit suicide."
  "Who said I was going to kill you? I'd make you into a vampire."
  "Wait. Why? Would that work?"
  "Sure. The transformation process practically gives you a clean slate. I'd be very surprised if it didn't work. As for why... well let's just say why not?"
  "... I feel like there's a catch... "
  "Well of course there's a catch, I don't just offer the gift to anyone. I'd require you to help me around the crypt as it were."
  
  And there it is.
  
  "A slave. You want me to be your slave." You say.
  "You wouldn't be a slave, you'd be my... companion. You think your few years of no meaningful intimacy are bad? Come back when you've had a century or so of it. I just felt a pang of loss over a man that I practically loathed for decades. Now I know I'm moving in quick on you, but when you've been as solitary as I have, you tend to not let social rules dictate your actions. I'm offering not only a cure for your condition and immortality, but also a chance for you not to worry about having to be alone ever again. You can't say you aren't tempted. I still remember that night we had years ago. Look, I'll be back in a couple nights. If you're still here, then I'll know you've accepted my offer. If you're gone, I know you haven't. And when I say I'll be back in a couple nights, you can bet that I'll mean it." Isabella says and leaves.
  
  And once again you're left alone with a big decision. You knew you were going to have to make one soon, but these events haven't definitely given you more to think about.
  > stay and accept the offer
  It's not a perfect solution, in fact it might very well be worse, but you see no other option. Maybe you just don't even care anymore. Ever since you left Teckleville, you've been confined somehow. Ral did it directly with the geas, then even in death he did it with this condition he forced upon you. Now it would appear Isabella is planning to do the same. She claims that you'll be her companion, but you really don't get the impression that you'll be equal. Not really. Hell, maybe in some twisted way you want someone else giving the orders and that's why you're going to do this.
  
  But it doesn't matter; you just can't deal with being like this any longer. At least this way you'll have someone on your side on a regular basis. Of course maybe you're just deluding yourself and hoping for something that isn't there. Just like you did when you waited for Heather. Again, it doesn't matter, you're going to go through with this plan because it's the easiest way out.
  
  So you wait, and in the next two nights, you hear a knock on the door. You open it and as expected it's her.
  
  "Well, given that you're here, I'd say that means you've decided to take me up on my offer. I have to say, this pleases me and you will soon see just how lucky you are that I chose you. Now, if you'll just invite me in, we can get to this, or you can step out here, if you prefer. Up to you." Isabella says.
  "Might as well come in. My home is your home now."
  "Indeed, but I'm sure you realize that we'll be living at my superior home... however I suppose this isn't a bad place to use as a surface dwelling of sorts. Always was curious about what it looked like inside. Though I'm guessing there wasn't frost all over the place." Isabella remarks as she enters and gives a brief glance around before turning to you.
  
  "So... are you ready to ascend a higher form of existence?" Isabella asks.
  "Um... yes... but I just have a question." You say.
  "Of course. I can answer all your concerns about this process."
  "It's actually about Spikey."
  "Oh?"
  "Well I was wondering what was going to happen with him."
  "What did you want to happen to him?"
  "Well considering I'm going along with all this, I'd like to request that you not kill him. I mean as a vampire couldn't you just charm the beast to not attack Dert?"
  "That doesn't work forever. The beast could shake off the effects when it's out in the wild at any time. I can't be expected to keep up on it and before you volunteer to do it, you aren't going to have the time either. Even if we managed to keep the beast from attacking the village, there's still the issue that he's probably killing all the wildlife in the area, which could actually have worse effects in the long run. He really doesn't belong here."
  "Is there nothing that can be done? I mean I get that you don't have an attachment to him, but he did save my life once."
  "Hmm, I can see that you're more attached to this animal than I thought... very well I suppose I understand. There's another solution, but you're going to have to still be prepared to say goodbye to him."
  "Why?"
  "Because we'll take him some place else to live that's why. We can make a trip out of it or something I suppose."
  "Okay, I guess that's reasonable. Thanks."
  "Well I am the reasonable one. So, you ready?"
  "I guess as much as I'm going to be, now you're sure this is going to work?"
  "I have no doubt that it won't, now come to me and let me warm you up."
  
  Isabella's statement is more of a turn of a phrase considering her own undead ass is as cold as a grave, but then she probably is still warmer than you are.
  
  You approach Isabella who embraces you in her arms. She doesn't flinch from your icy body and instead kisses you on your lips. You wish you weren't so numb that you could actually enjoy this bit.
  
  Eventually she stops kissing you and her mouth roams a bit lower and to the side. This is it.
  
  You feel a sharp sensation enter your neck (which doesn't cause you pain) followed by a draining one. Isabella herself is having a mildly difficult time sucking your blood, which is probably a little slushy due to your frosty condition, but she's getting through it.
  
  Soon light headiness follows and then you're starting to lose consciousness altogether.
  
  Just before you do though, Isabella stops feeding on you and then quickly bites herself on the wrist. Using the open wound, she pours some of her blood into your own mouth and a metallic taste hits your tongue and eventually slides down your throat.
  
  "You just made the best decision in your mortal life...  now experience ascension." Isabella remarks and then kisses you on the mouth again before finishing you off.
  
  Everything goes dark.
  
  You don't know how much time passes, but when you wake up, you're feeling quite different. You're not breathing, and you're hungry. You're still cold, but now it's changed. You're no longer a walking glacier.
  
  It worked, but now what? And where are you?
  
  You look around and find that you're no longer in your home. You're lying on a stone floor for one thing. There's no light, but you aren't finding that to be a problem since now you have some sort of night vision.
  
  You also see two human figures shackled to the walls. They're both naked and have their heads hanging down. You sense that they're still alive, but they aren't struggling so you can only assume they're either so demoralized that don't have the desire, or they're under control in some way.
  
  "Good, right on time for you to be awake. So, how do you feel? Hungry I suspect. Well you can have one of those two on the wall, Don't completely drain them though, I like to keep them around awhile, saves me from having to go out as often... though with you around now, I guess I hopefully won't have to do that anymore at all." Isabella remarks while standing in an entryway.
  
  You don't say anything; you just slowly get up as you're still feeling a little strange. Isabella goes over to help you.
  
  "Here, I got you. Let's get you over to the food, you'll feel much better I think after you eat. Don't worry, it's a very basic process, and I'll guide you through it, then afterwards we can do some other things that are also very basic. I'm sure that will be fun for the both of us."
  
  Isabella guides you over to the human wretch that's chained up and tells you where to bite so you don't just kill the person right away. She's right of course, it is all very easy. Hell, you don't even hesitate with doing it. Why you don't is probably a combination of several factors. If anything you feel like you're in a daze right now and Isabella is taking the lead. While its entirely possible that she's got some sort of control over you, it's more along the lines that you're just perfectly willing to let her take the lead.
  
  She promised exactly what she said, she cured you. Why be ungrateful or defiant? Why fight what is now your nature, which is to feed on other living beings' blood? You ultimately chose this, so you might as well embrace it.
  
  If this makes you completely "evil" now, you really don't give a shit. You were dancing on the edge of it anyway, and that didn't even work out very well. Maybe now that you've completely crossed over, maybe things will start going a lot better for you.
  
  The fact that you and Isabella soon have a round of passionate bloody vampire sex soon after you're done feeding can only mean things are in fact improving for you... 
  
  Right?
  > time passes...
  Year 26
  
  It's amazing how things can be going fairly well for you, and you'll still find shit to be dissatisfied about.
  
  What might be worse is the new nature of you "confinement." It's another gilded cage. (Or fancy crypt in this case.) While not much is ever demanded of you, Isabella definitely is treating you less than equal as you have to clean the crypt
  
  One thing you never knew about vampires is how they can become obsessed with the smallest details. Probably has to do with the enhanced senses. Isabella apparently is a neat freak and due to this quirk she spent most of her time rearranging, cleaning, and generally tidying up her home. An impossible task of course, but that didn't stop her from trying.
  
  Even the room where she keeps the blood "donors" is kept clean and isn't the slaughterhouse that one would expect it to be.
  She still cleans of course, but you're doing most of it now. It's really boring especially since you had to do this to a lesser degree at Ral's and at least there, you were able to let it go for a week at times. Not to mention it's fucking impossible to "clean" a vast underground crypt in the first place.
  
  About the only thing you don't have to take care of is her underground garden, which is her own personal project that she spends a lot of time on. In fact, with you around now she doesn't even have to leave it to get food much anymore. She just has you do that, which is sort of plus, since that's one of two major things that break up the monotony.
  
  You initially would lure a citizen of Dert back to the crypt, but in time you started wandering a bit more and realized with all the bandits making hideouts in forest, you might as well give yourself a bit more of a challenge.
  
  Sometimes you will boldly face a group of them. The poor dumb bastards never realize they don't have a chance and you proceed to tear them apart, satisfying your own hunger and leaving only one or two alive to bring back to Isabella.
  
  The second major thing would be your routine intimacy with Isabella. It's a little odd, mainly because you've got mixed feelings on the emotional side of things. Isabella is very comfortable with the physical aspect, but in a lot of ways she's still pretty distant. Makes a bit hard for you to return serious affection when you aren't sure if you're just there as a dick for her to use when she's in the mood.
  
  While you don't really have any real complaints about that aspect that might make this bit of "captivity" worse since it's really difficult to complain when you're getting quality sex thrown in your direction on a regular basis.
  
  But since you're not totally whipped, you're going to complain anyway. Not to mention you just need more to occupy your time. There has to be more than just feeding and fucking, especially since you're supposed to be immortal now.
  
  Though you'd be lying if you weren't worried, she IS vastly more powerful than you after all and can easily subvert your free will if she so desired. (She never has though)
  
  You wait for one of the rare moments that she isn't in her private garden to speak with her since even after a year she still doesn't allow you in there.
  
  "Oh, hello. Have you been waiting out here for me the whole time?" Isabella asks.
  "Sort of. Oh I brought back dinner. A couple of children from Dert this time. I know it's risky since it causes more hysteria in the locals when kids go missing, but I was very careful and I figured you deserved something special." You answer.
  "Mmm, you're always so doting. Well, with your news and the fact I finally got my deathshade growing properly, I'm in a good mood tonight, so we can do that thing you always want to do to me after I eat."
  "Uh, yeah that's something to look forward to, but I was actually here to speak to you about something that's been on my mind lately."
  "Oh, okay then."
  "Now I'm already prepared for you to say no, but I want to make my argument clear... "
  "Okay, so what is it?"
  "Don't get mad... "
  "If you don't hurry up and get to your point, I guarantee I'm going to start getting mad. Just fucking say it already!"
  "Okay! I want more freedom."
  "I see... "
  "Now hold on, I don't mean I want to leave you! I just... agh... I need more out of life, or unlife as it were."
  "More? You have all you need. A home, a nearby food source, a beautiful companion by your side. I mean I'm not sure I understand."
  "And that's all great. Really it is. Probably better than I ever could have stumbled upon. It's like... well okay here's a good example. You have that garden. That garden that you love to spend all, occupying your free time when you have it. I mean you don't even let me in there, so I'm assuming it's something pretty special to you. I guess I'm saying I need my own garden. Not literally of course."
  "Hmmm, I understand what you're saying... I suppose I have just taken your happiness for granted."
  "Don't get me wrong, I am happy, I just need something more to do and no offense, but cleaning this crypt isn't it."
  "Hah, well I figured. I'd hoped that you would have developed a bit of an obsession for it like I somewhat did, but I imagine your servitude to Ral might have dampened that. Okay, so you're basically saying you want a hobby, fine. But I wasn't exactly stopping you from getting one. So what did you have in mind exactly?"
  
  Well so far this is going better than you thought, though Isabella's question brings up the fact that perhaps you haven't thought this entirely through.
  
  "I'm... I'm not exactly sure... I was sort of expecting you to be against it. Okay, well anyway I've been killing bandits in the forests. Lots of them actually." You say.
  "I figured you must have found some other food source since you didn't often eat here. So you have a bit of the bloodlust do you? That can happen with new vampires. As long as you don't massacre Dert, I don't care what you do." Isabella responds.
  "I'm thinking I'd like to go to Holgard once in awhile."
  "You haven't before? Again, I assumed when you weren't feeding much here, you might be nipping off to Holgard to eat."
  "I sort of wasn't sure if you wanted me to go that far."
  "Sheesh, do I really come off of that controlling? Holgard isn't that far. It's not like you're a lowly human anymore that is going to take forever and a day to walk there. With your speed, you could go there and be back before dawn. Hell, if you really needed to, it wouldn't bother me if you stayed there for a few nights. Get it all out of your system. If culling a few extra humans to satisfy your bloodlust is what you need to do, well Holgard couldn't be a better place to do it. It's a crime-ridden city where murder occurs daily. You'd fit right in and never arouse suspicion."
  "True, but it's not just the killing, it's I used to be a rogue before all this happened...and I've been thinking on those days I do miss them."
  "So... what then? You want to go to Holgard to be a common thief?"
  "Well when you say it like that, it doesn't sound as impressive. It's more like I just wonder if my desire for it is still there or am I just missing something from a simpler time I guess."
  "Weren't you doing it during your time with Ral? I know he didn't keep you on that short of a leash."
  "Yes, but I was so miserable that I don't think I ever really enjoyed it most of the time. About the only time I did, was when I was training... um... another... "
  
  Isabella's eyebrow raises as you stop yourself from mentioning Lisa. You quickly change up the conversation a bit.
  
  "My point is, I haven't really gotten to enjoy doing it since I left Teckleville. Actually even before that, since I started enjoying it less after my sister left. However, I feel like I should give it one more go to see if it really was something I liked doing, or maybe I just liked doing it with someone who was also interested in it."
  "You actually may find such petty thievery much too easy now. After all you have powers that you didn't have before."
  "Perhaps, but I also can't just break into any old house either not being invited and all."
  "True, but that can be easily gotten around if you can charm the owner into letting you in. There are also public buildings of course like shops. In any case, if this is something you want to pursue, I'm not going to deny you your eccentricities. We all have our interests. I believe this may be left over longings for your old human life, which is natural for new vampires as well. I also think you'll get bored eventually, but I leave you to work through it. Anyway, was that it?"
  "Um, yeah basically."
  "Good, now I'm going to feed on these children you got me, and then we can do that other things. Fairly certain you aren't going to go anywhere tonight."
  
  Well she's right about that.
  
  The next night you make your way to Holgard and it's true, thanks to your supernatural speed you get there fairly quickly, you don't even catch the attention of the guards outside the gate.
  
  You haven't been here in so long; you never thought you'd actually miss it. Hasn't really changed at all though there is one thing you're noticing and that's the fact the streets are practically empty. Its not even that late, usually there's still more activity than this. You see the watch patrolling around, but they're in groups much larger than you remember. They also tend to eye you very suspiciously.
  
  Granted you're here for trouble, but you decide that it probably isn't the best idea if you start off by murdering several Holgard Watchmen so you start avoiding said groups.
  
  It occurs to you that something here has changed drastically. Last time you heard any news of this place was Heather and she told you there was a war brewing between the religious factions. Maybe things have gotten worse?
  
  In any case you decide to eat first and head to the lower class districts where there are less patrols and probably easier to get a quick meal.
  
  You roam the streets, but it looks like even the lower elements have tried to set up some sort of safety plan during this uncertain time. Bums and the like are lingering together. Whores are as well and even performing their trade in groups. The worst part is instead of the Watch, there are Ebony Claw Syndicate members patrolling around and they're probably even more diligent since some of the ECS are also Fel followers.
  
  You soon realize that you're probably going to have to just enter a tavern and just lure someone away and get them in private or just risk the attention and wipe out a small group as quick as possible. Actually you're keener on the second idea since you're getting a bit impatient with how inconvenient this has been.
  
  Just as you're turning a corner a man in a green robe literally runs into you. It's enough to cause you to stagger since you weren't paying attention, as you were lost in thought.
  
  The man himself is on the ground. He looks scared, but strangely not because of you. He keeps looking around.
  
  "By Yag, you're a pale one. Wait...  you a vampire?" the man asks.
  "Well there's no point in me lying since you're going to be my food soon." You respond.
  "Yeah? Well we that follow Yag all know that eventually we can't beat the odds forever. In fact tonight the odds were REALLY against me. Didn't see it ending like this though, certainly wasn't in the temple betting pool, hah! However I'd suggest you do it quickly before the Dornans get here. They see you and they'll use you for spell components, that is if the Joachimites don't get here first and just burn your undead ass."
  
  The Yagite priest continues to look around, waiting for what you're going to do, but it was always obvious.
  
  "Well guess I better follow your advice and make this quick then." You say and pick up the man and bite his neck. He makes little resistance other than gasping out some last prayer to Yag.
  
  You haven't been eating long when you're interrupted. The Yag priest wasn't kidding when he said someone would be here soon.
  
  "Yagite scum, you'll pay for... wha... ?" a female voice says.
  
  You look in the direction of the voice and snarl at being disturbed. You see a woman dressed in purple and blue robes and a couple of other members of her temple behind her.
  
  "Vampire!" one of them shouts and begins to cast something and you leap into action.
  
  "No, wait!" the female member says and backs away, but you and her subordinates aren't listening. You head towards the acolyte that was attempting to cast a spell.
  
  After you easily put your fist through his chest, you feel flames at your back, which the other acolyte has cast at you. The flames hurt, but it isn't nearly enough to save him, you're just too quick and you rip out his throat. You savior the quick taste of blood before turning towards your last foe.
  
  "Stop! Stop! It's me!" the woman continues to shout as she puts a shield up and that's when your bloodlust subsides long enough to finally recognize who she is.
  
  It's Heather.
  
  You certainly didn't expect to run into her on your first night here. In the back of your head, you sort of had a concern that maybe if you ever did, it would stir up complicated feelings about her.
  
  However, at this moment the only thing you're feeling is the desire to slash her open and drink her dry... 
  > stop your attack
  It takes everything within you, but you stop completely. Heather may not have been your girlfriend or even a friend in the traditional sense, but she was trying to help you once and her company however brief did comfort during that time.
  
  You can't just forget all that.
  
  "Shit. Heather. Apologies. I... well as you can see, I've undergone a transformation since we last spoke." You say.
  "What the hell happened? Are you... I mean you're really a... " Heather starts to say.
  "Vampire? Yes. I found a cure to my other condition after all."
  "But... how? I mean not only how did you know, how did you find a vampire that would do it without killing you outright?"
  "Let's just say, fate sometimes finds a way of finding you and when it does, embrace it."
  "Okay, but I mean this is a severe change and irreversible."
  "It's better than that cold condition I had. I don't think you really know how unbearable that got."
  "No, I suppose I never truly did. So... is this better then?"
  "For the most part, I mean I can never see the sun again, but then I never was a day person to begin with. Oh and I have to drink blood from others to survive."
  "You have to kill them too?"
  "The two normally go hand in hand, but considering the types I'm often killing around here, I don't think anyone is going to miss them."
  "Well, I'm certainly going to miss my two acolytes."
  "Apologies."
  "You said that before. Doesn't change the fact that they're dead. "
  "Well, my new condition gets a little intense sometimes. I get in this mode and I just... well you saw what happened. Though I stopped myself for you. That's the important thing right?"
  "I... guess. Maybe I should go. I'm going to somehow explain how I got two members killed hunting one pathetic Yagite. Nevermind, take care I guess."
  
  Heather backs off slowly from you, still keeping her shield up and her eyes on you the whole time.
  
  You almost want to stop her, but you realize that maybe this is for the best that she reacted in this way. Not wishing to attract any excessive attention with all the bodies around, you take your leave and head back home without bothering to engage in whatever roguish endeavors you originally were intending.
  
  As you make your way back home, you feel somewhat weird about the situation with Heather. You feel like it should be over and done with, but you can't stop thinking about her.
  
  Why? Are you trying to hang on to some sort of "humanity?" Are you thinking about what could have been if things had been different? Do you think there still could be?
  
  You quickly dismiss all of these thoughts mainly because it's stupidly suicidal to begin with. Isabella is your mate now and you really don't have many complaints about her. She's been more than understanding and helpful even if you don't feel exactly "close" to her sometimes.
  
  Speaking of which, when you arrive back home, Isabella soon comes to greet you. It would seem Isabella decided to wait up for you for a change. You weren't expecting her to.
  
  "Well that was quick. I at least expected you to stay out until dawn. Did you have fun stealing items and whatever else?" Isabella remarks.
  "I didn't bother. I mostly ate and then got out of there." You answer.
  "What happened?"
  "Just ran into a bit of unexpected resistance. Nothing I couldn't handle though. The religious factions in Holgard are practically having open battle in the streets, so it's making things a bit more chaotic than usual. Even the Joachimites have formed mobs to burn what they consider the unholy. Exciting though."
  "Hm, interesting. So does this mean you're not going back?"
  "Eh, not sure yet. I think I need to reassess."
  "Well whatever you like dear. Come now, let's lay together."
  
  The next few days you stay away from Holgard and go back to hunting bandits and wanderers outside. During this time you think about how it's probably silly of you to avoid Holgard just because of Heather. Holgard is a big city and while its certainly possible to run into her again, you're confident that you don't have any real feelings for her.
  
  It was just a brief bit of emotion brought on by your surprise to see her. Judging by her own reaction she's probably never going to want to be near you if she can help it.
  
  Of course this does bring up the question of how you'll react exactly if you DO see her again. You doubt if you'll kill her though.
  
  A week passes and you're back in Holgard. This time though, you decide to engage in some thievery rather than hunting. That was of course one of the things you were wondering if you'd be interested in doing again.
  
  You spend a few hours breaking into some jewelry stores with relative ease. Seems Isabella was right that you aren't getting the same thrill from it like you used to. It's just a little too easy and you suppose it's just not the same as hunting down something and drinking its blood.
  
  Still, no point in discarding what you've got now. You've never known Isabella to wear jewelry (or anything else for that matter) but maybe she'll appreciate the pretties all the same.
  
  As you're sneaking back out of one of the stores, a familiar voice calls to you.
  
  "Got anything pretty for me in there? Gotta say, didn't expect to find you ripping off some trinket store." Heather remarks standing nearby.
  "Wha... Heather? What the hell are you doing here? Are you following me?" you ask.
  "Well somewhat. I've actually been looking for you for the past several days since I wanted to apologize for being so stand offish with you. "
  "Oh. It's fine, completely understandable." You say getting ready to move on.
  "I've been casting detect undead regularly since that night just to apologize. I'm guessing since you haven't back to the city for a while, our reunion was unexpected for you as well. Are you really okay? I mean sincerely?"
  "Yes, I'm fine. Just in a bit of a hurry, I just robbed this store and the rogue in me likes to leave the scene of a crime as soon as possible."
  "Oh, right! Yeah, makes sense. Well can I come with you? I really would like to catch up with you. So much has happened and I besides how I acted last time, I sort of want to apologize for how we parted before that too."
  
  Part of you really wants to say "No." and just take off. A very small part of you feels like you should just kill her to avoid complications.
  
  However the largest part of you is the one that actually wants to talk with her like an idiot.
  
  Guess which one you follow?
  
  "Uh, okay fine. Just let's go some place secluded." You say.
  
  You waste no time leaving the area and soon you and Heather are in some empty non-descript dark alley.
  
  "Not exactly what I had in mind. I figured we'd go to one of the neutral taverns and talk." Heather says.
  "I don't lik