Frozen Hell

Lana Black wrote:

"I...don't really know." Lana admitted and fiddled with her dress, a nervous habit of hers. "Everyone here is so nice and comforting. I like living here with Rosalind and Milosh. It's a bit nicer than having to travel around everyday. Why do you ask?"

"Well I was thinking, maybe staying here isn't such a bad idea. They seem to have everything any vampire would ever want. Besides don't you think wandering around without aim seemed a little unrealistic. Don't you agree?"

Balo heard Rosalind's voice. He decided not to be alarmed since he figured everyone else in the house would take care of that.

"Yeah, I guess so..." Lana felt something was off with Balo. "Is that all? Or was there something more you wanted to say?"

It was useless. There was no more beating around the bush. "By staying here I meant just you." It hurt Balo to say that to her but he wants what will make her happy. "Before you say anything, just hear why I think so. You get along with everyone, everyone one here cares about you, not to mention the fact that they treat you like their own, and let's face it, you like wearing that dress." Balo figured a little humor would be able to lighten the already depressing mood.

"Yeah, but you like seeing me in it too..." Lana whispered and wrapped her arms around his waist, not wanting to let go. She could feel tears coming on. "Balo, please...don't go. I can't live without you in my life."

Balo hugged Lana tightly not wanting to let go. "Lana... I don't belong with these people. Even you must realize that I have no place here. I am neither family or friend to anyone but you. Besides, I don't think I made good first impressions on these people. Trust me, everything will be much better after I am gone. If it makes you feel any better I could come visit every so often. Now please don't cry. I am doing this for you. This is a lot harder on me than it is for you." With his finger Balo brushed away a single tear that rolled down Lana's cheek.

Lana couldn't hold back anymore. She leaned forwards and pressed her lips against Balo's in a gentle kiss, pressing harder when he didn't refuse. One of her hands had come up and grasped the back of his head, her fingers entangling themselves into his dark locks, deepening the kiss.

Balo didn't know what to do so he did what came natural. He began to kiss her back. Perhaps wasn't the best choice although it was the choice he wanted. Strangely, his mind was still stable. Usually when something extreme happens his mind begins to go into a maelstrom of thoughts and emotions but this time was different. The Wrath that is usually filling his mind was now being replaced with something that he hadn't felt before; some strange feeling that made him feel calm and warm. 'Maybe it was too soon to call it safe...' That is when the head pains started up.

Lana had never felt so safe before...never felt so warm... She had never experienced this feeling, not once in her life. And she liked it. But then she felt Balo twitching.

'Oh no...'

Lucian Roth wrote:

Smiling he hugged the girl close.

"I'm glad you're so eager for me to stay to get to know me, but that's where we're different." He muttered stroking her soft hair, "while you enjoy living here with your parent's, and brothers, I'm a nomad." He explained, "besides, I don't think your father or brothers like me very much..." He laughed smiling down into her green eyes. Kissing her forehead he smiled holding her hands in his own.

"I'm sorry." He said turning to leave.

"So what... That's it?" She asked, "You wouldn't give a fighting chance?" She questiond quirking a brow, "When ever life puts an obstacle in your path do you walk around it, or do you try to conquer it?" She asked holding her arms out. Letting the fall to her sides she hung her head.

"I realise the males in my family are difficult, and probably don't like you all that much, but if I asked them they would give you a chance." She explained, "I personally don't want to watch someone who practically saved my life to day just walk back out of it." She muttered crossing her arms as she turned facing the wall becide her.

Balo pushed himself away from Lana. This was getting dangerous. He didn't want to do this in front of her. Not again. He tried to walk away to the front door but failed. His head was spinning so much that he just collapsed on the floor. The pain was getting worse. Balo began to thrash around gripping his head and letting out spine chilling howls that resonated throughout the house. 'Not much time left before...'

"No...!" Lana gasped and ran to her friend's side, holding him close and not letting go. He couldn't do this again; last time had taken such a toll on his body. "Balo, I'm here." She whispered and kissed his forehead, hoping that what she did would calm him down. "I'm here..."

Balo fought an internal battle with himself for what seemed like hours. He felt Lana getting closer. He pushed her away and shuffled across the floor to the nearest wall. "No Lana! Stay back! I won't let you get hurt because of me. Not again!" Then it started.

Balo felt his fangs begin to grow...

"As long as you're okay, I don't care what happens to me! Control yourself!" She shouted and moved closer to him again, this time refusing to release her grasp. "You mean everything in the world to me, Balo Fry...everything. I would rather die a second death than to let something horrible happen to you. I know you can fight this. Maybe not before, but you're stronger now. Try..."

She kissed him again, putting all of her love in it, and sent, 'Try...for me.'

Balo had no choice now. He had to get himself under control or risk losing what he cares most about. Using the last of his strength, he tried to pull off one last recovery.

Black flames began to manifest themselves along his arm. 'It's too late. I failed the one person who believed in me utterly and completely. How can I go on knowing that.'

The flames began to cover more and more of his body. 'Wait a minute. Something feels different...'

'Try...keep trying...don't give up...'

She continued to hold him despite the flame, a bit surprised when it didn't burn her. Lana Black was not going to let go...not now, not ever.

Balo was feeling no pain at all. What was going on? This had never happened before. 'I wonder if I can...'

Balo decided that he would try to speed up the process. If it wasn't hurting neither Lana nor himself, whatever was happening couldn't be bad.

A moment's concentration was all it took for the flames to a massive inferno.

Lana's eyes widened at the sight of the flames, and she closed them quickly while holding her friend even tighter. But nothing happened. After a bit of hesitation, she finally opened her eyes. "Wh...what's going on?"

For some reason, Balo felt that this was the right thing to do. Something inside him told him that this is what he was destined to do. Not only that, but he felt like power was beginning to flow through him. As the power came in, so did the reason why he needed to do this. He finally realized why he became what he was. Whether or not Lana turned him, it was his destiny from the day he was born. With those final thoughts, the flames were out. One problem was that Balo had disappeared.

Balo was gone...why? Where did he go? And what was it that had happened? All these questions were running through Lana's mind as she promptly stood. Balo could have gone anywhere...and she had to follow. But first...she had to say goodbye to Rosalind. Running upstairs and changing back into her mercenary clothes, she packed her bag and dashed back down the stairs.

Balo was standing at the bottom of the stairs almost as if he was waiting for her. He casually said "Where are you off to in such a hurry? You weren't thinking of leaving me here by myself were you?" Although it was Balo, he was different at the same time. He had a new appearance. His body had become bigger due to his new found muscles. There was also a strange design in the palm of his left hand and on his back. It was Lana's family crest!

He had also grown taller slightly which Balo knew wasn't going to make Lana happy.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Lana completely missed the last few steps and crash landed onto the cold marble floor. "B-Balo?! Balo Fry?!"

Sure enough it was him, though there were those few changes. But still nonetheless, it was Balo. "What happened to you? I thought you disappeared...and now you pop up looking like this. What happened?" Lana asked as she cupped his cheek, meeting his eyes. Still the same beautiful silver...

Balo let out a sigh. "Where to start? For one, I know why what just happened happened, I now have knowledge of my family's early history, and a bunch of other stuff. Let's see... am I missing anything? I don't think so." Balo looked at Lana from head to toe just realizing what she was wearing. "I prefer you in the dress. Why ARE you wearing that anyway?"

Wait. There was something missing. "Oh yeah. Can't believe I almost forgot this." He held up his left hand so that Lana could see the crest that belonged to her family. "Looks like I am your new guardian vampire. Please don't tell me you want me to call you master from now on?"

"Guardian...vampire?" Lana asked a bit confused. She grew a bit angry when she heard the part directed at her clothing. "Well, excuse me if I thought that you were gone and wanted to change to go out to look for you! You are such a jerk!"

Walking over to the balcony, Lana sat down with an angry huff with her head in her hands. A rush of different feelings invaded her mind and heart; relief, confusion, anger...and a bit of pain. "I almost lose you for the second time and here you come back and act like it wasn't a big deal..."

Balo began to feel guilty about that part. "Alright I am sorry. I didn't mean to do that .... again. Hey look at it this way. I will never do that again because now I am tied to you...whether you like it or not." Balo looked at his palm. It looked as if the crest was burned into his skin yet almost like a carefully applied tattoo. "I bet you are wondering what exactly just happened?"

"Like hell I'm not, Sherlock." Lana grumbled, still refusing to look at him. It was the teenage hormones in her, so blame them. "Mind explaining why you're trussed up like that with my family crest on you? I've got all day and nowhere to go, so start spilling."