By the Light of the Moon

Within two weeks everything was settled and Rowena's things were moved from her pre-war apartment to Seth's. Seth's apartment was much more modern in it's overall appearance, and yet her antiques somehow worked. Of course not everything could fit. The rest of her items were either sold or put into a storage unit they obtained. The blackout curtains were installed and they soon were living there quite comfortably together. They had fallen into a routine. When they awoke they usually made love before heading out into the night. They fed separately to reduce the risk of being caught before meeting at a pre-determined spot. From there they either found a show or a club, or would return back to the apartment to spend a more quite night together. Just before sunrise, they would make love again before falling asleep in each other's arms.

Tonight, however, was a special night. Rowena had convinced Seth to return to his music and to perform again. They had located a different spot for him, where he wasn't known. The location was quite packed that night, but Seth looked completely relaxed. Rowena sat towards the back of the crowd, but in a spot where Seth could see her. She smiled at him as he took the stage...

The next couple of weeks felt like bliss for Sebastian. He had never shared an apartment with someone, let alone a woman he was having sex with. However this was different, he let her pretty much redecorate and take it all over. She saved him his small painting space and a small area set aside for his piano, guitar and music stands. Other then that it was all hers. Most of his things were junk more or less. Modern crap designed to look fancy but weren’t. Rowena seemed to have a knack for decor and though many objects had had to go into storage their place looked quite unique.

They made love twice a day and it was something that he seemed to never be able to get enough of. They shared blood and touched one another’s body with their months and their hands. He was thankful she had several sets of sheets because at the rate they were destroying them he thought they’d have to go buy more very soon otherwise. She had found a place in a more artsy corner of the city that had been looking for a musician. He kept his same name but he’d likely be someone new to almost everyone there. They hunted separately...Rowena’s idea so no one who saw by accident could put them together.

It was finally Saturday night and Sebastian’s big...well, maybe not so big debut was tonight. He would go with the piano he thought. His new found abilities made his ability to play uncannily good. He didn’t bow or even really act as if there was a crowd there at all as he came onto the stage. A few people clapped but most hadn’t come there for him. It was a hangout for those who seemed to like to pay more than they should for alcohol. There was also someone who had an art exhibit there, their paintings were displayed all around the room for anyone to look at or buy. He spied Rowena in the back where he knew she’d be and he calmed moved up and took a seat at the piano.

Normally someone would talk a bit, introduce themselves and speak about the song they were about to play. However Sebastian wanted to be more...mysterious for this particular crowd and so he just began.



His fingers touched the keys so beautifully and his voice...his voice was different to. It had power and emotion, so much so that people began to stop talking altogether to listen to him. Many had no idea that they had stopped.


It was a sad song, one Rowena had never heard him sing before. That was because he had just written it. It was about her and Armond and it seemed to touch the hearts of those in the club, even the waitresses and bartender who stopped what they were doing to listen.

Rowena listened intently to Seth's song and, although she had never heard it before, she knew immediately that it was about her and Armand. She felt emotions that she had been trying to destroy come back to the surface and she was sure Seth could sense them. She was so focused on Seth that she hadn't realized that everyone in the room had gone quiet to listen to him. For her, it was just him.

As the song ended everyone applauded and some cheered. Rowena noted that a few girls with dyed blonde hair and cropped tops moved closer to the stage however she wasn't at all concerned. She knew those girls would get nowhere with Seth...despite their best efforts.

Sebastian sang several more songs and not all of them were sad. His last three had everyone talking  and drinking again. She knew he did cover songs as well but those would come later. As he finished his first set he stood and leaned over into the microphone as the crowd clapped for him and called out for more. “I’ll be back in a few folks, glad ya like the music,” he said gracefully then stepped away to go sit with Rowena. He ordered tea for themselves though they'd never steep the tea bags. Ordering tea was her idea, it made them look more human and the hot cups felt good on their hands as they held them. Several women had come up to them, some even leaned on his shoulder as they talked to him and hardly ever gave Rowena a glance. Sebastian thought that that was very rude but her gestures told him not to make anything of it and so he didn't.

They asked his name, where he was from and told him how much they liked his music. He was thankful they were a ‘bit’ classier than at the Vinsetta. At least he hadn’t received a pair of their panties or a thong. One bought him a drink and he saw that there was a white piece of paper with her number on it under the glass. He remained polite to them and smiled and told them all how beautiful they were though his heart really wasn’t into this right then. It belonged to someone else and she sat across from him and seemed to be enjoying the exchange. Even so he wanted them to be happy with what he did bother to say and then they were. Almost too happy as they left him. He didn’t know that he had manipulated their moods by sheer will but he had and not only them. Some people nearby seemed quite jovial as well suddenly. He gave Rowena a wink and kissed the knuckles of her hand as he stepped back onto the stage to continue.

He did cover songs for his second set and took 2 requests which he switched to play on guitar. After he was done he came back out but only for a moment longer before he went back to their table and sat down. "Was I...uh, any good?" he asked.

Rowena quite enjoyed watching the women as they flocked to Seth. She felt no jealously, because there was no need to. They could easily end up being a meal. However, what she did enjoy was knowing that they wanted him and could not have him...for a number of reasons, but mostly because he was hers and she knew it. And so she let them flirt openly with him in front of her and give him their numbers and touch him discreetly all the while smiling slightly at him.

When he went back up on stage she stayed where she was, but could easily see him. She smiled as she listened to him sing and play...and smiled at all of the people who were listening to him as well. He had needed this...needed to feel...human still in a way. This transformation had not been easy for him and she hoped this would give him those old feelings again.

She watched him as he walked back over and sat down. "You were amazing...as always."

Sebastian only shrugged as he realized that none of it really felt the same. With his new senses and new abilities his ability to sing and play was nearly effortless now. "Everything feels...different," he whispered as he touched his cup. "Pitch, and the piano...it's like my fingers know where to go before I even do. How do you deal with a life of obscurity?" He asked. He couldn't even imagine living for so long and no one ever knowing his name.

Rowena sighed a little and could only shrug. "It's just something that you get used to I suppose. I no longer even think about it. It's just apart of who I am. I thought this would make you happy, but if it does not I do not want you to feel obligated to continue. Your happiness is what matters to me."

"No...I...I don't want to stop," he said suddenly. "Besides you....it's...it's all I really have left," he said. He sounded sad as if all of the colors in the world went black and white suddenly. Something about his new vampiric vision Sebastian did not like. Colors were different and he wasn't certain that he liked the change. "Have you gone many places or do you prefer to stay put?" He asked. "I think I might like to travel, if you'd go with me," he said.

"I have been to many places," Rowena replied. "But I do enjoy to travel. I have been in New York for sometime now and am ready to leave again with you. Where would you like to go?"