The queen herself was the first to take Garland up on her offer. Of course she didn't know that the girl was actually the vampire queen. She never would have guessed it. Not the way Chan talked about the queen anyways. All she knew was that this girl had brought her here. She wasn't one to hold grudges, neither her nor Chan were hurt, and she seemed friendly enough. She smiled as the young woman took a piece of gum.<br/><br/>Chan rolled his eyes. He grumbled at Lily's words. How could she say she 'understood' why he declined? She didn't 'understand' any damn thing about him or his situation. She wasn't a queen. She was a little girl playing pretend. But on the other hand her offer to cure Garland did run through his mind. He had heard something mentioned about a cure for cancer somewhere along the lines he was sure. But then again, when it came to humans and their news they always either were close or had a 'cure' for this thing or that that never worked or turned out to make things worse. So he had pretty much given up on their 'cures'.<br/><br/>But could he trust this girl? The very girl who had slaughtered and drank the blood of her own kind? Could he trust this betrayer of their race? But if it meant curing the girl. But on the other hand, did he really want her cured? With her sick she was dependant on him. So what would happen if she wasn't sick? She would be much more adoptable. Some nice human family would want her. Or she would grow up eventually. She wouldn't need him anymore and would leave. He would have to see her grow old. She would age and he wouldn't. Then she would die anyway.<br/><br/>But what if he kept her sick? She would be dependant on her. But she would die young, just like Sebastian had. What if he could've cured Sebastian? Would he have? Of course he would. But if he didn't cure her then she'd literally be with him forever. She'd just become more and more exposed to the vampire way of life. She was a young girl living with a full grown adult male vampire. She'd already picked up some of his bad habits. She had even seen him murder people for other reasons besides just for food. His mind screamed at him.<span style="font-style: italic">"Don't be selfish. Why let her die just because you fear being alone... again?"</span><br/><br/>He passed the thought up. He wasn't afraid of being alone. He had been alone for longer than anyone could ever know. But was this cure just a cure for the cancer? As much as he hated it, he would have to discuss things with Queen Lily after all. Then, something jerked him away from his thoughts. The mutant wolf approached.<br/><br/>Garland's breath caught for a moment having this huge creature in front of her. Then she gasped as she could hear the creature talk in her mind. She giggled at the silly face it made. She let go of Chan's hand and slowly reached out to pet the creature. Before she could, Chan grabbed her wrist. Didn't he hear the voice? But he hadn't. The wolf hand only linked to her mind, not his. He gave her a stern look and she gave one back for him to let her go. He dropped her wrist and mumbld.<span style="color: #FDF5E6">"Fine. But don't come whining to me because you're ate up with fleas and ticks and need a rabies vaccine."</span><br/><br/>She ran her hand through the creature's fur. It was very soft to the touch. Petting the wolf made her happy. She wanted a pet but Chan would never get her one. Maybe this would change his mind. She took hold of his hand and moved it towards the wolf. He jerked away. But she did it again.<br/><br/>Chan grumbled. He didn't want to pet this nasty beast. He had no interest in it. But he knew if he didn't she was going to keep it up until she made him even more pissed than he was. So he let her run his hand through the fur. It was actually soft and he could feel the warmth radiating off of it's living body. He was sure it could probably feel the coldness in his touch, unlike the warmth of the little girl's hand.<br/><br/>He suddenly got the realization that even being as old as he was and having done nearly everything he could think to do there was still things he hadn't done. Like he had never taken the time to run his hand through a living animal's fur. When he touched a living animal at all it was to bring it to it's death. Garland had asked for a pet before. He had actually considered getting her one. But his sole trip to the pet store to do so was not a good one. As soon as he entered, the pups and dogs that were once bouncing and eager to be picked up growled and barked at the far end of their cages, hunched over and tail between their legs. Felines hissed. Birds squaked. Rodents and reptiles hid. Fish went crazy. Even the damn crickets were trying to escape. The pet shop employee had looked at him like he was Satan. He had stayed for but a moment then left without a single pet or a single word spoken. It just wasn't worth the hassle.<br/><br/>Now here he was running his hand through the fur of an animal. For a split second he actually enjoyed it. Until he realized he was doing it on his own and Garland was staring at him with a smile. He jerked away.<br/><br/>She giggled.<span style="color: #7DF9FF">"Wasn't it soft? Did you enjoy it? What do you feel like?"</span><br/><br/>He huffed.<span style="color: #FDF5E6">"Yeah, soft as a porcupine's ass. I enjoyed it almost as much I would a stake through my heart. And what I feel like is that now I need hand sanitizer and a flea dip."</span>He snorted.<br/><br/>Garland giggled. Bitch all he wanted to. He liked it. She knew it.<br/><br/>But the men weren't backing down or taking the girl up on her offer. They acted like they didn't even notice her. She frowned. She hated it when grown-ups just past her off like she didn't matter. At least she knew if Chan was bitching at her for this thing or that at least she knew he was paying attention to her.<br/><br/>Just as one of Croft Hemming's lackies gave them their final warning the hybrid spoke up.<span style="color: #E3A857">"Anyone ready to kick some Croft Hemming ass?"</span>Chan gave a half grin and popped his gum. "Finally, someone making some sense. I'm with lady Air Bud. I say we take these guys out." He stood in a battle-ready stance. He knew if Croft Hemming found them then it was only a matter of time before the Church of Helios discovered where they were as well. This many supernaturals in a public place like this would be like shooting a caged animal for them - the perfect target.<br/><br/>Garland looked up at him and sighed. She didn't want to fight. But she didn't want him to fight either. But if that was what it was going to come down to then she'd fight by his side or die trying. And it looked like this was what it was going to come down to. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath in, clutching the gum close to her chest. She then opened her eyes and smiled at the wolf in front of her. With a quick pat on the creature's head she stepped around it in front of the queen. Then, with all her might, she hurled the pack of gum at the first military man she could see and charged him head on. She didn't know how her tiny, weak self would hurt this armored up guy with a weapon. But if it was a fight they wanted then she was sure as hell going to try. With the single act of a child the fight was on!