Jacques kept walking, paying no mind to the direction his feet chose to go. It may have been minutes or hours. The time seemed to just hang around him in this endless night. As his senses began to settle, he became more and more aware of himself and his surroundings. If he wanted to avoid causing a scene, he needed to find clothing. The clothes he wore were rotted and filthy.<br/><br/>To that end, he would be forced to break a personal rule. He hated to exercise his ability to control the minds of humans. It was a weakness his peers mocked him for. Humans were no more than simple animals to be eaten and toyed with by Vampires. Some how he had never been able to adopt that mindset. Extra strength and skill only gave him a sense of heightened duty. He was a guardian.<br/><br/>Passing by a small home, he noticed a light shining in the window. Someone was awake, perhaps. Moving quietly, he approached the home and rapped softly on the door. If anyone was, in fact, awake, then perhaps they would open their door to a stranger. If he could just get an invitation inside the house he would be able to get everything he needed: Information about where he was, clothing, and a place to hide from the sun.<br/><br/>When the door opened a crack, the face that appeared in the shadows behind it was wrinkled, weathered with age, and cautious.<br/><br/>"Good evening, Madam..." Jacques dipped his head to the old woman, "I am sorry to disturb your peace so late. Please forgive my intrusion."<br/><br/>He met her eyes, channeling just a hint of focus into his gaze, beginning to reach out toward her mind with his. She was old enough that it should be easy to control her.<br/><br/>"My goodness..." replied the woman, looking him over, voice colored with a motherly hint of concern, "You poor dear... look at you! What has happened to you?"<br/><br/>"I was attacked, ma'am... I couldn't see who did it, but... Would you perchance allow me to enter and recover my strength for the night?"<br/><br/>It was all he needed. The spark of sympathy she felt for his supposed attack allowed him the entrance he needed. He gripped her mind expertly, careful to be gentle with her, and watched her eyes glaze over.<br/><br/>"Yes... please come in..." she droned.<br/><br/>He stepped over the threshold, cupping a hand over her arm to guide her back into the house. Compliant and vacant, she followed him.