Erik walked with Nikita at his side, heading back to the room. "Now, there is this annoying chief of staffs meeting which no one who is not of the inner circle may attend, which means you must stay here, understood?"

Nikita nodded.  "I will wait for Master here."

After Erik left, Nikita curled up on the man's bed.  He closed his eyes, content to doze in the warmth of his Master until he was needed.  It seemed a short time later that the door opened, an act that slowly roused the boy.  He looked up to see a stranger near the door

Nikita rose, approaching almost silently.  The man had a sharp knife with him and was hiding in a place that the person who opened the door wouldn't see.  The boy realized in anger that the man was there to kill his Master.

The man didn't know his danger until the fangs sank into his throat and then it was too late to fight.  Nikita took a moment to try and sort the images that had come to him, to try and find who was paying the man, but came up with nothing.  After another moment's thought he realized that there was always a guard on the King's door.

He turned, opening the door quietly.
 
 

Erik walked down the hall towards his room, a large dusty book under his arm. "Imbeciles. I tell them to dust the library and what do they do? Send some moron in who nibbles on the covers! It's no WONDER we're the..." he trailed off, spotting the guard at his room.  The man seemed... different. Slightly glazed.  Erik frowned.  "Guard," he called, getting the man's attention.

"Yes, my lord!" The man saluted.

Erik blinked. 'My lord? What rubbish is this?' he wondered to himself. Normally the guard either grunted in his general direction or mumbled something.  He paused before his door, examining the man further. "Has there been any activity?"

There was a slight pause. "Yes, my lord. There was some."

Erik raised an eyebrow. "Of what sort?" he asked slowly.

"There was an intruder."

Erik looked at the man a moment. "Did you stop him?"

"No, my lord."

"Well why the bloody hell not?! What on Earth do I pay you for anyway? You--" Erik paused, noticing something. "Turn your head so I may see your neck," he ordered.

The man did so.  Two small puncture wounds were evident.

Erik mused internally. The height and angle seemed consistent. "Carry on," he said sharply, turning the knob to his room.

 He opened the door slowly, alert for the intruder.  He paused as the door stopped, hitting something.  He slid into the room, turning to see the obstruction. "Huh." He blinked a moment.  The demon on the floor was very obviously dead... his skin was paler then ivory and he looked very dried out on the edges. Erik poked the demon's head with his boot and nodded, seeing the twin puncture wounds.

Turning again he looked to his bed and smiled slightly, seeing Nikita snuggled up on it, half buried by his comforter.  The boy's skin was almost rosy, holding a creamy ivory look, rather then the dead white pallor it had been before.  "Nikita," he called in a soft and calm voice.

Nikita looked up, face brightening.  "Master!" he said happily, rising to approach him.

Erik smiled. "I see you have been busy in my absence..." He gestured to the body. "Do tell me what occurred."

The boy recounted what had happened.  "I tried to find out who sent him, Master.  I really did try."  He hung his head.  "But there was too much and I couldn't."  He looked up, eyes gleaming.  "The guard thinks it was the lord treasurer," he offered, smiling slightly.

Erik gave a light laugh. "About the guard... beyond taking a sip from him... what did you do?"

"I didn't want him to let you in danger... so I told him he should be a better guard or I'd drain him further."

"Mm...." Erik mused. "How did you tell him?"  When he was met only with a confused looked, Erik continued. "Normally, this guard will barely listen to me, never the mind anyone else. How did you make him obey you?"

"I just told him...." Nikita said, still confused.  "Like I told the man last night to stay...."

Erik tilted his head slightly. "Told the man..." he trailed off, eyes thoughtful. Suddenly he gave an exclamation, as if just remembering the book at his side. "Hold that thought!" he said, holding up a finger. Very quickly he paged through the book.  "You told him without verbal speech, correct?"

"I did?" Nikita said in confusion.

"Well, you didn't use any speech I could hear," Erik stated, still paging. He paused and ran his finger down the page. "Hmmm...."  He looked up again. "We can also test this as well.  It may be difficult, but try talking to me without speaking."

Nikita just stared at him.

Erik sighed slightly. "Here..." He put his hand over Nikita's mouth and said a quick spell. "Now talk."

The boy opened his mouth to speak and no sound came out.  His eyes widened in desperate fear and his hands covered his mouth.  'Master, what did I do?  I'm sorry.'

Erik grinned. "Wonderful! Perfect!" he exclaimed. "Now, do that again without the spell," he said, removing it.

Nikita lowered his hands slowly, still unsure.  'Master?'

Erik smiled. "Excellent!" he applauded. 'Can you here this as well?' he projected.

Nikita sank to the ground.  'What are you doing, Master?  How can you do that?'

'It's not me, it's you,' Erik projected, squatting in font of the boy, placing his fingers under Nikita's chin to lift it some. 'It's because you have High Elf blood.'

The boy looked into his Master's eyes.  'My fault?  Because I'm tainted?'

'Nonono, this is a good thing,' Erik assured with a smile. 'It makes you very unique and useful.'

'Oh.'  Nikita leaned closer unconsciously, taking comfort from the warmth of Erik's aura.  'I am glad I can be useful to you, Master.'

Erik gently pulled the boy to his side, stroking his hair. 'I'll train you, bring out all of your talents,' he thought softly. 'Teach you to read, maybe even play chess...'  He gave a small happy chuckle.

Nikita relaxed against Erik's side, smiling happily.
 

Nikita looked at the bed wistfully.  Master hadn't liked him going there last night, but it was warmer where Master was.  He looked at it a moment more.  Maybe if Master was asleep it wouldn't be trouble.  Moving softly, he crawled into the bed, curling inside Master's warmth.

Erik stirred, eyes opening slightly to look at the boy. "This going to be a nightly occurrence?" he asked, voice tired and tinged slightly with humor.  "Is your bed cold?"

Nikita shrank back, sliding to the edge of the bed.  "I'm sorry, Master."  He looked down.  "You're warm, and safe.  Safer than a bed alone...."

"Mmm." Erik agreed sleepily. "I guess it's all right then," he said, snuggling into his bedding. "Just do warn me before bedtime next time, all right?"

Eyes shining, Nikita snuggled close to Erik.  "Yes, Master."  He closed his eyes, basking in being near his Master.  Before long he was asleep, smiling.

Erik looked at him a moment, expression bemused. "Good night, Nikita..." he said sleepily before falling asleep himself.