The man’s outburst was crude, but Kade knew that he couldn’t expect much more than that.  Whether he remembered anything for certain or not was still up for debate, though it was likely that he only remembered flashes in fevered dreams, or else he’d have stormed in directly accusing instead of thanking Kade for the flowers.  It made the vampire smile as his prey stalked out, all rage and adrenaline, leaving behind an arousing cloud of pheromones.<br/><br/>The next three months were quiet.  Kade stuck to the club whenever possible, consoling the sole survivor of his garden and making sure he was on more stable ground.  Because of it only being Isaac, and because he was craving more, the pale vampire was driven out to hunt.  It was all Dorian’s fault.  He’d been too good, too tempting, and just knowing he was out there made Kade hot for more of him.  Having a personal stake in things stilled his hand.  Drug dealers and pimps a little deeper into the seedier part of town had no sway on his conscious, though, and he easily cornered one when he needed to.<br/><br/>Still, they were no substitution for what he truly desired, and he found himself falling into the bad habit of drinking more than his fill.  It had been centuries since he’d been such a glutinous idiot, and once Isaac finally confronted him about it and brought it to his attention, Kade stepped back and ‘slept’ for several days.  It would do no good to do too much damage, to draw attention.  Hunters would surely catch news of it if he kept it up.  Then Isaac would be in danger, as well as any fresh seedlings.  Jacob was the only one he felt was safe.  The only tie the man had to him was the club, and there were already arrangements that if anything should happen to Kade, funds had been set aside to take care of the rest of the legal proceedings, as well as a small nest egg as a way to pay him back for the chaos created.<br/><br/>It was only during the last month that he was able to draw in anyone new.  First was a couple.  As was typical, they studied at the nearby college, and both were theology majors.  Kade’s existence was enough to blow their tiny human minds, and they easily swore their loyalty to him.  All it took was a little showing off and a single bite to be persuasive to humans like them.  They were beautiful, too… the woman with flowing red hair and a habit of wearing bright lipstick, the man with blond dreads and cool grey eyes.  After that, he picked up yet another that they recommended, who was a college graduate but still young.  He stood out of the crowd, thanks to the numerous piercings and tattoos littering his body.  He was more ink than skin in most places, which Kade became fascinated with.  He spent the first night studying that body with great intensity, trailing the intricate lines of each tattoo, and falling to less than innocent pleasures in those long hours.<br/><br/>In the coming weeks, those new faces haunted the club regularly.  If they weren’t studying, working, or sleeping, they were there.  They were granted access to the underground level, where they would gather to give their company, their laughter, and their blood.  It was tiny, in comparison to what he had been used to, but Kade loved the way that they easily bonded, both with him and each other.  It felt like the beginnings of a new family, and he treasured this new and beautiful garden.<br/><br/>Jacob, meanwhile, was in good hands.  Even if Dorian couldn’t stand him, he knew the man wouldn’t want a loss on his impeccable record.  No, he’d fight tooth and nail to spare Jacob the future of being surrounded by cold cell walls and murderers.  Kade spoke to him on a regular basis, if only by phone, and he kept up on all the court proceedings.  Going to trial was inconvenient, but necessary.  It was getting harder and harder for him to behave, though.  Keeping his distance… he couldn’t do it any longer.<br/><br/>That’s what he convinced himself of as he peered in through the window on the balcony.  It had been an easy climb for him, and he was no novice at home invasion.  He did have the presence of mind to leave his shoes there outside, but he discarded the heavy overcoat once he was inside.  When he stepped into Dorian’s bedroom, he might’ve appeared more specter than anything, moving across the very new carpeting in nothing but a flowing, translucent robe that was almost as pale as he was.  Kade was silent as he moved, so the first sign that would’ve let his prey know that he was there would’ve been when he crawled up onto the bed behind him.  He moved slow and steady, like a cat stalking an unsuspecting bird, ready to pounce the moment it took flight.