<strong>Henry Marrow - fire escape</strong><br/><br/>Daniela leaned against the railing. One slender, pale hand curled around the iron bar. Her other hand came up and touched Henry’s face in an oddly affectionate gesture. “You can never go back”, she said. There was no smugness in that statement, no gloating. It sounded as if she repeated a phrase from long ago. Her eyes sought his, kindness bestowed in that look. “I will teach you, my childe. You will learn all that you wish to know, and much that you will want to forget.” Her fingertip trailed his jaw line, a sensual movement that was belied by his Sire’s businesslike demeanor.<br/><br/>“There are many rules but there six that are set in stone. These are the rules that ensure our survival.You have heard the first, and perhaps the most important one: the Masquerade.<br/><br/>“Thou shalt not reveal thy true nature to those not of the blood. Doing such shall renounce thy claims of Blood.”<br/><br/>Daniela lowered her hand and half-turned back towards the view. “This involves more than just not telling anyone. It means that you will not inspire suspicion, create no cause for investigation.” Her beautiful Asian features smoothed to the blank mask she so often presented the world with, unreadable. “While our society is complex in its dealing with smaller transgressions, we have pretty much only one punishment for the larger ones.”<br/><br/>“Death.”<br/><br/>Daniela glanced down at the concrete below. Her head turned left and right, her eyes scanned the night. A slow smile curled upon the soft red lips.<br/><br/>“Consider that your first college. Muse over what I told you about the first Tradition. Memorize it, and tomorrow I will ask you some questions.”<br/><br/>Setting both hands on the railing Daniela hopped on up. Seated on the iron bar she swung her legs over to the other side. Both hands gripped the rail as she looked over her shoulder at her childe. “Come on up”, she invited, patting the railing beside her.<br/><br/>The street below seemed very far away. Looking over the railing Henry could see the small park, the trees and bushes formed amorphous black spots against the medium dark of the paths and grass. The outline of a small bench was vaguely visible in the periphery of a damaged street lantern. “Try to avoid the fence”, Daniela advised calmly. “That might be a bit more than you can handle.”<br/>