Excerpt from "Friends With Fangs", written by me:(Fanfiction for Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, but all characters in this scene are mine.)We crept down the hall where Caden's room was located. "Are you sure about this?" Cameron asked for the umpteenth time."YES!""Fine, but you're asking him. He makes me nervous.""Stop being a wuss." I gave her a scornful look over my shoulder and knocked on his door. The door opened and suddenly I thought Cammie was not such a wuss after all.Caden does not have to try to look badass. He just is. No leather, no tattoos, no metal studs or piercings. He is just a tall, nicely built vampire with the unmistakable air of someone who has instantly sized you up as an adversary and is not impressed. Most of his wardrobe is monotone black, simple design, suitable for fighting. It all flatters his lean martial artist's body, but somehow you know that doesn't matter to him. His medium-length dark hair is always slicked back, making his angular face and high cheekbones look almost too severe. His eyes are his most arresting feature- a deep green, lovely and sparkling cold as the darkest emeralds. His nose is narrow and patrician, his mouth well-shaped but stern and unsmiling. Even standing still, his body suggests power and grace. I have seen him fight, and it's a terrible, graceful beauty that you never forget.He came to us a little over two years ago. He had escaped from the Dragon, and no master of lesser power than a sourdre de sang , the head of a bloodline, could keep him from being taken back into her service- read, slavery. It is hard to believe anybody could enslave Caden, but the Dragon is just that freaking scary. The Dragon isn't literally a dragon, but she doesn't have to be; she's terrifying enough. He was her personal killer, the best warrior of her vampire "children", and hers is a bloodline of warriors. With his physical and mental prowess, the preternatural power he exudes seems almost redundant. Papa knew of him long ago- Caden was used as a threat against vampires who rebelled against their masters. Disobey, and when the torturers have had their fun with you, the Dragon sics Caden on you. Caden didn't torture- there were plenty of vamps who were happy to do that- but once Caden was sent against you, you were dead. Coldly, efficiently killed. Neither weapons nor powers could save you. The only question was how many seconds you could buy yourself before the end. (Although from what I've overheard about the Council, I wondered how many of their victims must have welcomed him as an end to their suffering.)One night there had been an alarm- my father's vampires had sensed a strange master in the territory, and they started organizing a search. It was not necessary. Caden had walked into my father's sitting room with empty hands extended to show his peaceful intentions, and every vampire in the room had tensed. I had never felt such fear from them, and I could not understand it. Asher tried to hurry me out of the room, but I struggled long enough to see what happened. Caden stopped right in front of Papa, slowly unsheathed his sword, knelt at my father's feet, placed the sword in front of him, and said simply, "I am sick of being her killer. I am exhausted beyond endurance of always being a force of destruction. I want to keep what shreds of my soul are left, and use my abilities to protect something better. Give me sanctuary here and I will use all of my skill in defense of your kiss." He'd been as good as his word since.Only the fact that he himself had been forced to do a lot of massively unpleasant things by his vampire mistress made Papa willing to believe Caden. Besides, he was just too powerful to turn away. My father's kiss needed warriors, and Caden is the best. Looking up at Caden, I could fully believe that he had once been the face of death to other vampires."Yes?" He was gazing at me with a look of polite curiosity, and I realized I had been standing looking up at him mutely. "Is there something I can do for you?"I glanced back at Cameron for courage, but she was lurking near the bend in the corridor, far up the hall. Some friend."Um, yes, actually, I wanted to ask a favor if that's okay..." I stammered."Please, come in." He moved away from the door and gestured me toward a high-backed wooden armchair that was so elegantly carved it looked like a throne, then seated himself on the neatly made bed. I looked around and noticed that the only other furniture was a bureau, a nightstand and a single bookcase. There was no decoration unless you counted the swords on the wall.I took a deep breath, folding my hands in my lap to keep them from shaking. Go for it, you coward. He is not going to kill you for asking a favor. "There's a concert next week that Cammie and I really want to go to. Papa got us tickets, but he says we have to take two people along to watch over us. Nathaniel already said yes, but Richard has taken the werewolves again and almost everybody else has to work, and we really really want to go, so I wonder, would you be willing to go with us? Please?" I finished lamely.He blinked."Yes, please?" Cameron said from the doorway. Maybe I'll speak to her again after all.He glanced silently at her, then back to me. "What evening is it?""Thursday." I leaned forward. Was he actually considering it?"I... Yes, I can spare that evening."A stunned pause and I leaped up from the chair. "Really? You don't mind? Oh thank you, thank you so much! You don't know how much this means to us!" I clasped my hands together hard, stifling the impulse to hug him. Somehow I doubted he would appreciate the gesture. So I smiled up at him as he stood. "Really. Thank you."Was it my imagination, or did his usually severe face seem a touch softer than normal? "I am pleased to help. Is there anything else?""Um, no, thank you. I... I should go tell Papa that everything's all set.""Good evening, then."I smiled, feeling a bit silly for having been so shy of him earlier. "Good evening." I paused in the doorway. "You're coming to my birthday party, aren't you?"He looked up with a mildly surprised expression. "I had not realized I was invited. I understand it is only for family and friends."Startled, I looked closely at him and the hint of conflict in his normally unemotional gaze surprised me. "Of course you are! Family and friends includes you. Casual dress, and don't worry about a present, your coming to the concert with us is more than enough."Cameron peeked in the door again. "Thank you!" He nodded once, and we left sedately, then dashed down the hall toward my father's sitting room. Absorbed in our excitement, neither of us noticed Caden watching us go.Full story archived on Pomme De Sang at: http://www.pommedesang.com/efiction/viewstory.php?sid=6105