By the time the trio had reached the small house that Julian had procured for them a few nights prior the sky was beginning to show signs of the rising sun. Clouds that once hung with hues of the darkest of blacks and deepest of purples were now rimmed with the reds and oranges of the coming day. Thomas had learned long ago, thanks to his sire's<i>generous</i>teachings, to be indoors if at all possible during the daylight hours. While it was not lethal for a vampire to be touched by sunlight, as many a storyteller had written in their mythologies, it did weaken them greatly. In fact, beneath the Sun a vampire was as weak as the humans they preyed upon, and just as easily dispatched.<br/><br/>Thomas looked once more to the sky, taking in the canvas that was the heavens above before resigning himself to the hell that waited for him beyond the oak door that stood before them. He opened the entrance of his own accord and stepped inside without a word. As far as he knew, it would be the last free decision he would make for quite some time, and he was going to enjoy the freedom of that act while he could.<br/><br/>Upon entering the subtle stench of decay caught his nose almost instantly. From what he could tell the smell came from beneath his feet in the home's cellar, and knowing what he did about Julian he was certain that it belonged to the house's former occupants. He looked back at the man he called sire and scrunched his nose disapprovingly. "You haven't change at all have you master?" The question was pointed and not at all respectful despite the title Thomas placed at the end of it. He very well expected to be struck for his insolence and mentally braced himself for the blow, but it never came.<br/><br/>Julian stepped past Thomas and tossed his waistcoat onto a nearby rack without even looking at his children. "Neither have you childe. You still cling to your wretched humanity, and for what purpose?" The elder vampire turned to face the two of them, motioning for Elizabeth to join him at his side. "Do you think that leaving your prey alive and potentially able to speak of our existence makes you better than me? Do you think that these<i>cattle </i>give a damn about the feeling of the pigs and lambs they slaughter for their own fulfillment?"<br/><br/>Thomas listened on with little interest, though he did keep eye contact with Julian the entire time. He knew the spiel, but showing blatant disregard of it could prove to be dangerous, and Thomas still needed to learn what he could about the young woman his sire had turned. Had Julian convinced her of the ways he followed, or was there still hope of saving her from his clutches? The answers to those questions and more would have to come when they were alone. "Forgive me master," he spoke steadily, trying to keep himself calm enough to go on, "it's just seeing you after our...parting has proven difficult. Please know that I am thankful for you taking me back, and even more so for this precious gift you have bestowed upon me, but I am tired. May I please take Elizabeth and retire to our chambers?"<br/><br/>Julian smiled warmly at the question, a look that Thomas was not used to seeing on his normally twisted visage. "You wish to bed her already? My dear boy, I didn't think you had it in you."<br/><br/>The laughter that emanated from his sire was sickening to listen to. Of course it was what the sick bastard would think of first, because God forbid Thomas want to actually talk to her...to get to know her. No, Julian had always been a creature of animal instincts, and he expected his childe to be the exact same way. That was when the thought actually occurred to Thomas.<i>Does she expect me to bed her?</i>Shaking the image of debauchery from his head he simply looked upon his sire and answered, "No sir, not this day, but soon I hope..."