As the television sharply came to life, the local news was doing a exclusive pre-show coverage of the concert that was the buzz of Port Charles.

Within only two weeks, The Stephen Clay Experience has made it's home within the billboard top with their hit song "Naked Eyes". As of now, nobody, from the excited fans beginning to gather at the park to the insiders of the industry can claim to have actually laid eyes on Mr. Clay himself. The band manager, Joshua Temple, assures us that Mr. Clay is simply a humble and shy artist. The band other band members we have been able to interview, such as Ricky Garza, the newest drummer can only express Mr. Clay's passion for the music, which matches his own. "That is why it is called the EXPERIENCE!" quotes Garza, and boy oh boy do the fans agree. The sky is just now beginning to darken yet security already surrounds the stage and people are pouring into the park en masse... here is the music video for 'Naked Eyes'...

As the precious bundle known as Sakura Rose was half watching, half listening as her eyes would rest for moments at a time, her parents were having a small discussion, some of which needed no words.

At the Gothic look of the band, Mrs. Dawson furrowed her eyebrows in disgust and shot a sharp look to her husband, standing to her left. He simply held up a peaceful hand and nodded. He then whispered "We agreed she needed to be an American teenager, yes? Let her have her MTV... all the other young'uns in the crowd are fans of the band and look perfectly healthy and happy."

The haunting first five notes of Naked Eyes began to play and Sakura Rose heard them, and felt more peaceful than she had all day. The fact she was stuck in a hospital bed seemed to matter less for the moment and a light smile formed on her doll-like face.

The hardened faces of the adults softened and they soon found themselves holding hands, in silent agreement that this was a good thing for their daughter, and the contented look on their one and only's face was priceless. Not sure if she was asleep or not, Mr. Dawson offered, "Johanna, why don't we grab some late lunch/early dinner from the cafeteria while she's resting..." The tone of voice he used was one that caused a flush to come to her face, a soft, personal voice that was reserved for her and her alone. "Good idea." He helped her to a standing position and the adults exited the room, not noticing that Sakura Rose was humming the song note for note.

Caleb raised his head to hear the heavy footsteps of a couple leaving. He left his room in time to see Sakura's parents walking away, holding hands. He made a gross face at the sight, just for his own fun, and then recomposed himself. He could see Sakura was watching television in bed. Caleb, on the other hand, was standing, striding, clearly unaffected by whatever had caused Sakura to be bedridden. Yes, that was a good impression. So long as his hunger pangs, which had dissipated when faced with green jello but were now howling for a good breakfast, did not betray his composure he'd make a very grand impression.

"Hello? Little miss?" Caleb asked, rapping the door frame lightly with his knuckles, but he was not loud enough to be heard over the din of the television, which Caleb now recognized as a music program. He hated both music and television as one would hate stale bread. There was simply nothing nourishing in it. However, this music was not as irritating as most other music was... He wanted to listen more, but there was the girl. He entered the room- purposefully, if he was nervous walking in he would appear to be sneaking and sneaking is a sign of weakness through dishonesty and Caleb must not project weakness.

He took a seat in one of her parent's chairs, pushing it away from her bed slightly. He could say he had come in to watch television and was sitting at a distance as so not to disturb her, and his television didn't work and aren't hospitals boring, miss, by the way I recognize you- Oh, right. Caleb took a longer look at the girl to make sure she had attended the party last night. Such thin limbs! She was adorable. It brought to mind a small rabbit, how the girl's long black hair fell to frame her face like the floppy ears of a baby bunny. But yes, he had seen her at the party. Ruffles and lace indeed.

The girls humming startled Caleb. She'd been awake all this time. He sat back in his chair, regained composure almost mechanically in a moment and tried to look very interested in the television program.

Sakura Rose felt so comfortable, and so cared for by the music that seemed to caress her just as lovingly as her parents would that she made no objection to their leaving. Not that she would do something as selfish as stop them from aquiring food, but it wouldn't be unusual for her to ask them to 'Please hurry back.'.

Even over her humming she heard a light rapping on the door, but she didn't feel like being disturbed so she purposefully didn't make any movement. The strange ill feelings she had been plagued with seemed to be temporarily abated. She knew by the address and the footfalls that it wasn't a doctor, though they didn't stride like a child either. Eventually her curiosity got the best of her and she shifted with her face right towards where her mother was sitting, opened her sparkling green eyes, and whispered the final lyrics of the song, "no more hiding from~ the world through Naked Eyes" with a gaze that seemed downright otherworldly for a moment.

She then blinked and shook it off as if awaking from a dream. To her discontent the television had switched to a commercial. "Do I know you?" she asked the unfamiliar youth in her room with a very quizzical expression.

(I'm so Sorry everyone!)

Faith was heading towards the park. Although she had taken a wrong turn. Heading down the street towards the old restaurant. Faith had only been in there a few times. It was a very good little place. Just never really had the time, or need to stop in. She came to the stop light at the end of the street. Where it turned red. The red light seemed to be taking its sweet time. Though suddenly Faith felt very ill. Nauseous in fact. Quickly she turned her directional on and took the right on red. Parking in the first space she found. Which happened to be a very tight fit. She went into the small business, Ignoring everyone around her for the first few seconds as she went to the bathroom. Letting whatever was in her system out.

Against every fiber of her being, when Faith opened her eyes. She saw red. Bright vibrant crimson blood had just come out of her... Though she felt better.. Her eyes widened she she slowly stood. This was not normal.. Right? Then again that was what she thought that last time this happened. In a slightly different way of coarse. Still.. Puking blood. Faith just wanted to get out of there. She flushed the toilet and cleaned herself up. Not finding much of a mess in the first place.

Faith left the bathroom. Finally able to take a look at the place. Only a few took a look at her as she came out. Although many did not seem to care. She did in fact step up to the counter. One thing she always felt she needed to do was buy something when entering a restaurant. This time she ordered a simple water to go. Laying the money on the table before stepping out. Almost bumping into Apple and Kataro who had just gotten outside it seemed.

"Hello there" She said rather simply. Not really wanting to lead into a large conversation. Though it would be rude to just ignore them.

Was she frightened? Of course she was frightened, damn it boy, this was too close a approach. Instantly Caleb could hear the girl telling her parents about the creepy boy. But he had thought his approach out long enough. He knew he needed to show he wanted nothing. Think of a golden lion- if it did not hunger for or fear you, would you not approach curiously?

Caleb's eyes lingered on the television a moment more, as if he had not heard the girl's question. He then looked down at her curiously,"Yeah, I think you might..." He said carelessly, then smiled and leaned forwards, resting on his arm lazily with his head just above hers. "You look like a girl I saw on tv. In fact..." His eyes then darted up from her to the television, staring at the commercial intently as if a hidden image would appear. "I saw her again," his hand pointed to the screen, "Just now."

Sakura Rose's voice held no fear in the least. Due to the stressors of the past twenty four hours she has let her formalities take a back seat, which makes her come across more childlike than ever.

"But I've never been on TV, though. A few magazine snapshots from when I visited Akihabara, but that's it." After a reminiscing pause, she asked the important questions, "Who are you anyways, and why are you in my room?" She perches an eyebrow, and looks as if she is examining a new toy from the other side of the glass.

The odd demeanour of the boy before her made it really hard to guage his age, and his actions made it hard to second guess his purpose as well. This frustrated the girl who is used to picking up and putting the puzzle pieces with no effort at all. He was in a hospital gown, but was he supposed to be in pediatrics? She peeked to see if his wrist clad with a similar plastic bracelet as her own...

Caleb laughed, resting back in his chair to put distance between him and the girl. Her confidence surprised him. He had expected her to be groggy, hence her remaining in bed. "Relax, I was joking!" He waved his arm as if brushing off her comments about being on television. He had no interest in whether or not she'd had any media attention. "I just recognized you from the Marquis' party last night, that's all. I was wondering how the both of us ended up here." He lowered his head to look down at his knee and made his leg fidget, a difficult motion for him as his movements were generally rapid and purposeful. Impulsive movements were an important part to convey mood, however, so he had learned well.

"It wasn't the food, was it?" he rested a finger to his chin playfully, his eyes were wide and looking up at the celling as he 'remembered.' Whatever experience she related to him, he would share. He would know more, or thank her for the information and at least add a bit more. After which he would be able to leave as he liked, with a simple thank you for elucidating and from there walking out while she remained in bed, an image he rather liked. But he was beginning to wonder if her childlike manner was more than just an act- when her parents returned, would she find his talking to her trivial, would she be eager to forget about the whole night and all things relating to it? No, no, he must make sure she finds the night important, for it is all the two share and he needs this relationship to work. It could be this one item that he collects that puts him above the other team, winning the scavenger hunt for himself...

"...Or maybe it was..." he said without making eye contact again. If she wanted his attention, she would speak.

When Caleb mentioned 'The Marques', Sakura Rose's facial expression shifted suddenly and unexpectedly. She appeared to be having a flashback of some sort... with the awe of meeting Jesus, Santa Claus, and Superman all in one.

She used the side rests of the bed and re-arranged her pillows so she could sit up. She also took the opportunity to find the remote control and lower the volume on the TV. The infomercial's pitch and rapid speaking made her ears want to bleed. As the young man finished talking Sakura Rose spoke, and sounded more intelligent and older than she looked, as opposed to younger this time.

"I happen to know percisely what occured, up to a given point. Additionally, the news is all the gossip of the parental units. I was conversing with Miss Appolonia and Alessia, the daughter of some out-of-town hired help for The Marques. They mentioned exploring and I found the idea to be detestable and an insult to our host so I declined. Later in the evening I did run into The Marques himself, and after explaining how my friends had scattered about he charged..." a dramatic pause "me with finding them so everyone would be present and accounted for, for his announcement. Then, I called to my friend in the garden who didn't reply. It seemed as if everyone had vanished. Alessia told me Apple was stuck behind a door downstairs. I brought a candle with me to see and lit an extra for her, and jammed the door open to rescue everyone, but as we began to descend the stairs, and I saw my fallen artist friend Young Master Merrick... I can't remember anything after that."

After a sigh, she seemed to regress back to her childlike self, "I would like to know what you older teens were up to down there? Having make out sessions to practice for college or something? It was creepy, I know that much, why not explore somewhere nice like upstairs? Either way, there was a gas leak. I was the youngest and the smallest of everyone found, so they're keeping me here just a couple of more hours for observation. Almost all of the big kids have got to go home already."

Something didn't sit right with the girl's face. "The candles... I left the votive I borrowed from upstairs on the ground to find the half rotten wooden crates... and we each had a taper... if there was a gas leak... shouldn't the candles have responded?"

"Ugh!" the girl turns over and bangs small fists on her pillows "I'm thinking too hard." she rolled right side up again and her eyes caught the television set. "Looks like the concert is about to start. The mystery musician Stephen Clay is going to finally show his face, says the news. He came from out of nowhere and his first single has been a chart dominating hit... it makes everyone feel so alive... so loved... so one with the music... it even made me feel... peaceful and calm despite being stuck here in bed."

As the phone rang, connecting to Faith's number, Alfred dropped the phone and fell to his knees, vomiting a stream of red before collapsing on his side, groaning in pain thinking, "What the hell was that?" Mikhail rushed to Alfred's side shouting, "Sir, are you alright? Is that blood?" Alfred shook his head saying, "I-it's alright Mikhail... I feel slightly better now. I doubt it's blood, it's probably just the drink from the Marques. Help me up, would you?" Mikhail gently helped Alfred back up and back on the chair and asked, "Would you like me to send for you physician sir?" Alfred nodded and said, "And the maid, I'd hate for that to stain the floor. Damn, grab the phone for me, it's still ringing."

Whatever it was that was flooding his system seemed to be doing the trick. The Count was experiencing almost bearable levels of pain and the current state would almost have been worthy of jubilation if it weren't for that confounded screeching coming from the other room.

"You kids, turn that down", he yelled, or tried to yell. What came out was more of a garbled harrowed wheeze that hurt a bit more than he expected. He moaned a bit and pushed down on the mattress with one of his wrinkled old fists and held his breath. He hadn't ever known that broken ribs would hurt so damn much. But this was just physical pain. He readjusted the bed to a sitting position using the remote control, and found a position with which he could speak. So long as he didn't exhale too hard, or inhale too hard, he had the power to command short phrases.

"Chair", he said to a nurse whose job it was to watch him, apparently. The nurse stopped reading the magazine he had in his hands, rolled his eyes, and went off to grab the wheelchair. He returned moments later, wheelchair at the ready and began the long process of stabilizing and moving the Count into the contraption, but not before adding a little bit more morphine to his IV drip to take the edge off and maybe pacify the ornery old man.

Apple turned for a moment and noted the presence of someone else, but someone she recognized. It was that artsy kid, Faith something. She was sure she'd seen her work and heard the name, probably even saw her at a party or two. She was another one of those kids that passed out at the party. Strange that they should keep running into each other, but it wasn't a very large town. They were bound to, after all.

"Hey, I know you. You're... Faith, right? From the party? I seem to be popular today; were you looking for me too", she asked with a kind sort of sarcasm. She gave her current companion Kataro a half-smirk.

Caleb barely heard the flood of information the girl gave. He was pleased that she sat up to talk to him, relating the events as if he were some sort of authority figure who everything to the last detail. He was quite sure the girl had not held anything back, and even better, Caleb was sure had her parent's asked her the same question, her answer would be no different. He could trust her.

An objective overview like hers, so detailed, was invaluable to Caleb. Now he could share that experience with the mob princess as well as the the Sombres boy, two families he knew he'd need to ally with, the mafia especially. All his grandfather's millions couldn't grant the solid power of a friendship with that girl. And now he knew most of the guests weren't in the hospital, which was also helpful...

"Oh, I bet I'm not that much older than you." He replied, noticing how the girl regressed when done regurgitating information.. She distanced herself when answering questions, so to establish a proper memorable connection instead of a nameless questioner would take a softer touch. "Anyway, said Caleb, "I was with the Marquis in his art gallery, not making out with anyone, promise. None of the guests even came upstairs, which I suppose is why the Marquis left me to try and gather up the children. It was a rather beautiful gallery, you know?"

Caleb turned his head to the television. So that was what she wanted to be close to, the music. "Why don't you go to the concert?" He asked in reply to her wistful remarks. "Anyway, you should have explored upstairs, instead of fainting. Then I would have met you and everyone. I guess I've met you now, though."

He extended a hand. "I'm Caleb."

With combination of her innocent and childlike demeanour with the undercurrent of intelligence and perception that made her tip-toe the borderline of one having obsessive-compulsive disorder, there is indeed some sort of charm and charisma about her that makes people implicitly have no qualms about trusting her.

Sakura Rose's head whipped from the television to Caleb so quickly she ended up with some of her raven hair in her face (which had to be promptly removed, as it still lingered of smoke from her exploration into the smoking room for the cause of finding the other youth) at the mention of The Marques. The small girl in the bed could almost be mistaken for a doll with eyes that glitter. Imagining him in his personal art gallery. "You had the honour of running into Him as well..." a half-smirk hid the fact that the girl did literally run into him, and was glad it was a colloquial phrase.

There was some confusion after Sakura Rose heard Caleb's story. "If you were upstairs... and you were asked to find everyone as well... how was it that you got knocked out? Was it the food after all?"

Her heart sank a bit at the thought of another being assigned her task, her personal favour to their most honourable host. His trust in her must be completely lost! She looked a bit sad and pouty, the way Caleb probably expected to find the girl in the bed: rather dejected. "Your alternative sounds like it would have been a bazillion times nicer than what had happened."

She took his hand, and felt not just his skin, but through it, finding a bit of what is there but cannot be seen. Intelligence was confirmed, yet there was much more than he was letting her see, but he did seem to sincerely wish her no harm. Upon being released from the handshake, she would have been inclined her hand briskly if that would not have been downright insulting "I am Sakura Rose Dawson... and I go by both of my given names."

Grabbing the remote, and turning up the volume yet again, there was the cheering of the crowd. "There's no way in H-E-Double-Hockeysticks my parents would let me go to this concert. They almost didn't even let me watch it."

She distracts herself from her poor emotional state by turning into a living wikipedia entry:
"They mystery man, Stephen Clay, is a creative genius. He does all the programming and comes up with most of the lyrics. There is a local girl from Port Charles who is on his staff as a writer for some of his songs. This is the first time they've played live so they had to borrow a keyboardist from another band." She then continued to point out the names and positions of the band members as they filled the stage. "Ricky, the drummer is from right here in Port Charles too. He replaced their old drummer due to some kind of falling out, he's probably high fiving people he knew from high school. The girl Reese is the most gothed out and is the one the guys talk about the most, she plays guitar and does some backup vocals. The bassist name is Kaz, in the interviews he's nice enough but I wouldn't like to see him in a bad mood, he could be hired as a bouncer any day of the week... I don't see Stephen though..."

If Caleb had anything important to say to Sakura Rose, it is best he said it before the final third of the song when Stephen Clay actually appears, rising up in the middle of the stage. The girl's draw visibly drops. His gaze. His movements. He reminds her of the Marques! She is in rapture, clutching her chest with a small hand until the explosion at the end of "The Gift", at which point Mr. and Mrs. Dawson re-entered the room. The protective mother hen shoots the boy a look of 'Who are you, why are you with our daughter, and you better get your ass out of my seat!' "Ahem." Was all that was actually vocalized by the couple in the doorway, however.

TV Anyone?X

The papers would later write that the tragedy of that night was caused by a kind of negligence that could only be considered gross ineptitude on the part of the hospital. When asked, the doctor would simply not be able to explain why he had given the girl that much morphine when she was merely unconscious from a gas leak, and then used the defibrillator on her until her chest caught fire. He would deny it adamantly, stating that he would never do such a thing, but then it would be caught on tape, on the security cameras. He would watch in horror while the girl convulsed and convulsed and finally stopped moving. Things for him would change after that. The hospital would be sued, and of course he'd lose his job. He'd be arrested, found guilty, but... by that point, he would be far gone somewhere in a dream between nowhere and goodbye.

His remaining years he'd spend in a hospital, this time as a patient and some day... he'd start to speak again, but that was far off in the future.

At present, Ixandrias Lane Kellen Devereaux was dead and Dr. Daniel Traubman was in handcuffs.

Kataro felt the bump and turned trying to hide the anger at Faith whom had bumped him. Seeing who it was he seemed mildly stunned. "I had an appointment with you later miss, did i not?" he said after recomposing himself. He glanced at her. He noticed her pale skin and the look on her face. "are you okay?" he wasn't sure what to make of it all. He fought of the blush from Apple's smirk and gestured at the car pulling up. It was smart and black with darkened out windows. The driver window rolled down and his butler with his silver hair spoke softly. "Master Sousuke, well are we taking both these ladies with us on the run today?" Sousuke glanced at faith, "I insist ma'am after all you don't look well enough to drive..." Kataro didn't believe in coincidence and this all was a bit too coincidental. He felt as if some greater plan was at work her as he gently, but still firmly, directed Faith into the car sliding in beside her he left the door open for Apple. He was slightly regretting having even left the house today but that was merely due to the extreme presence of the two woman. Perhaps they should pick up someone else from that night, Merrick maybe, he was longing for a male companion right now not use to the overwhelming estrogen levels. He chuckled softly slightly wondering how they might think of him if they knew he wasn't use to woman. His lack of a mother, and any real female presence for the most part of his life played a great part in this and beside how he sat and the blush he tried to hard, he was quiet obviously uncomfortable.

Faith took a step back. A small smile grazed her lips as Apple recognized her. MOst people did, just not of her own age. The voice of the beautiful women's male companion caught her attention also. Mainly his concern. Was she truly that pale? Faith thought she looked as such in the morning.

"I-ah am fine. I tend to always have light skin from rarely going outside." Well that much was true at least. Still maybe she did look sick to the face. Something she did not see. As the car pulled up with the driver, Faith was moved towards it. "No no it is fine. I drove here after all." She protested. Faith was grateful for the offer, though she honestly felt uncomfortable in the presence of others. Being a loner of sorts.

"You don't look so good yourself. You seem very uncomfortable." Faith paused, as her gaze slowly fell to the ground. Almost like she was deep in thought. But something more. It only lasted nearly a second before she continued where she left off, well sort of at least "you have painted your mind into a corner.."

Her phone started to ring just a second later. Filling the car with noise. She took it out of her small purse, and looked at the caller ID. Recognizing it right away. "Excuse me. I need to take this. I have been waiting for this person to call me for a while now." She snuck out the opposite door. Answering it on the way. "I'm Sorry." Faith said to the two in the car. "Hello?" Faith finally answered.

-----------

Diary Entry? Are you kidding me? What am I... seven?! Went to a house last night, got lost, and I guess was out cold from a gas leak. And now I'm in the hospital. Big flipping whoop. Hope the other damn kids are suffering just as much as me. Not that I know or care..

------

Ace had been awake for some time. He was home now from the hospital. Pulled out by his father. Who was convinced of his drug dealings. The drugs had made him go a bit crazy, and therefore put all the other kids lives in danger. He was now in his room. Door locked, no light, and just the sound of Thrice blasting threw his speakers. Hammering his brain like the smoke of a thousand burning homes.

One thing, in his mouth hung a cigarette. Glowing an intense red with each puff. He got up slowly. Changing into a simple gray shirt and black skinny jeans. His Father disproved of his smoking of coarse. But did not stop Ace. Since he smoked himself. his band was playing a concert that night also. Opening for the rest of the show. Of coarse they had to tone down their music for the sake of children. Ace honestly did like children. And was the one in his band to speak up about that. There was never any reason to swear in the presence of a child.

His phone rang from across the room. The ring tone of his ex-girlfriend. Why could they never leave him alone? And again he ignored it like he had the past three times. They had been broken up for about a week now. And Ace had no reason to be back with her. His eyes gazed up and around him room. To the bare walls. Except one canvas of a black butterfly. In the corner of it was signed Faith. A small smile itched the corners of his mouth while he threw his sweatshirt on. Ready to head out the door.

As Sakura began to speak in detail, Caleb's mind turned towards planning. He was not sure if her extensive knowledge of the band was a sign of passion and therefore something he could use to get closer to her, or if she was simply the kind of person who memorized facts without emotional attachment. However once Stephen appeared on stage, Caleb knew from Sakura's enraptured state that the band was indeed a passion of hers, and the one thing that separated her from her family. If he bridged the gap, made the band acceptable... He remembered what he had learned about the Marquis before attending his party. He was a music producer, for sure, and if he did not produce this band then he surely had reserved seats at the only arena in the area. Jackson Industries even had a reserved company box there, although with a sold out concert that scarcely mattered.

Mrs. Dawson's 'Ahem,' caught the boy off-guard. He had been expecting their return, but it had not been more than ten minutes. It's hostile intonation made even clearer her relationship to her daughter, as well as their quick return. Some parents could not be befriended through their children, the kids being thought of as 'bad seeds,' and any friend was seen as an enabler to more familial shame. Sakura's honesty and innocence were so strong in her behavior that they could only have developed through training. She probably hadn't even had a nanny growing up. However a mother hen blinded by love is just as prone to missteps as a distant parent, and at this point there was no need for trickery. Caleb had had plenty of time to think.

The boy quickly sat up, turning the chair back to its original position, and walked over to greet the Dawsons. He moved and stood with all the mannerisms of good-breeding, as he had done at every introduction ever since he moved to New Haven. "Mr. and Mrs Dawson." He greeted them. "I am Caleb Jackson. I was with my grandfather Jacob Jackson at the party last night. Unfortunately I had an allergic reaction to one of the hors-d'ouvres and failed to meet anyone, but I did see most of the guests. I recognized Sakura and came in to tell her about the concert- Oh, wait, how rude of me. Please sit, I don't mean to be in your way"

Caleb sat at the foot of Sakura's bed, so that the two chairs were open and facing him. Sakura, he assumed, would staring at him now with a mixture of confusion and fascination. It was not time to look at her yet, he needed to preform for her as much as he did for her parents. Once they were seated and looking at him expectantly, still as suspicious as always, he continued. "The concert tonight is a band that the Marquis produces, and as an apology to the children afflicted last night he requests we attend, free of charge. Most of the older children left hospital early this morning and are attending, but I thought perhaps because Sakura's been in hospital much of the day, the Marquis' servant hadn't been in touch yet. I only know because my grandfather called me to relate the message."

He then smiled and turned his head to Sakura. "I wanted to make sure you were the girl I saw at the party before I told you... Stephen Clay's so popular, and telling a fan I had free admission but they would be stuck in the hospital would have been really mean."

He then turned back to her parents. "A car will be along soon to pick me up. I know as parents you have to take of medical papers and such, but the concert starts in a few hours and if Sakura wishes to attend, with your permission of course, my servant can drive her home to change clothes and then take the both of us straight to the concert."

Caleb then looked at Sakura's parents expectantly. A smile would have exuded smugness, and as the fox he must not bare his teeth in front of mother hen. He was sure the mixture of formal manner and childlike words would make him appear to have the same values as their daughter, his manners innocent and with conscious humility.

Merrick worked somewhat tirelessly at the sculpture he'd started since he'd gotten back and already it had the makings of something... very new. It was, in essence, a man pulling the another man from behind by the arms while sticking his heel in the small of unfortunate fellow's back. The funny thing about it was the way the aggressor was portrayed. He seemed infinitely powerful, but falling apart, a rotting cannibal corpse and mostly hollow, and yet, well-formed and attractive. The patches of torn skin shadowing the face to a strangely aesthetically appealing, almost sexual countenance, if looked at from a distance. It wasn't until you came closer that you noticed he had probably been dead for years. He had his music turned up very loud to keep anyone, parent or servant. It carried with it the added bonus of drowning out the phone, thank god.

Apparently, it was not loud enough and somehow life seemed to seep through the cracks in the door... this time in the form of his mother who wanted to talk about something that Merrick would never find out, as he brushed passed her while mumbling something about taking a break and going for a walk in the park. And now he was quite happy he left when he did, as he could hear the phone ringing in the other room and his father's unmistakable voice informing his aunt someone that "Yes, he's just in his room. One moment." Freedom was opening the door and stepping outside, stepping outside into the oppressive overbearing sun.

Merrick had barely left the house and gotten into his car when his cellphone rang. He looked down to see it was Apple.

"Come on", said Apple to Faith, "We're all going to go to the Stephen Clay concert. You should really come. I'm even going to take an artist friend of mine, if I can get him on the phone..."

She dug in her purse and pulled out a cellphone, and dialed someone that probably had no intention of going to any sort of concert where people under thirty gathered and sweat en masse. She giggled to herself, as she dialed, at the thought.

"Hey, MJ", she said, "It's me... What do you mean 'Me who'? Your phone has caller ID like everyone else's and I know you have my number. I put it in there myself."

Damn..., thought Merrick to himself.

"Look, I've got a friend here who wants to meet you, a fellow artist by the name of Faith Bard", said Apple making a cutesy face at Faith and holding back a rather loud laugh, "uh-huh... uh-huh... yeah yeah yeah, whatever. Look, just meet us at the Sarsaparilla. Oh and you might want to bring some mints."

She hung up immediately and swallowed her enthusiasm, but remained unable to banish her rather mischievous smile from her face.

The Count made his way over to the room where the cursed music was coming from. At this point the voices from his guides were at a near fever pitch as they warned him of the demon lead singer, whispering his name over and over again. "Unclean", they whispered, "Undead." And even with morphine running heavy in his veins, clouding his mind, he could see clearly that there was definitely some connection between him and the Marques. If only he was well... if only his frail human body was young again... he could rejoin the hunt and end the reign of evil on Earth! He waved his hand in the air; the drugs muddling his mind, he'd thought for a moment he was waving his cane... But they had taken it from him and kept it... wherever they had taken the rest of his things. He would be here a few nights still.

Breathing deeply he said as he entered the room, "What is... -breath- ...that blasted... -breath- turn that off!"

The voices were reaching a fever pitch now, as he came closer to the origin of the sound. In fact, they drowned out all his other supernatural senses, preventing him from even feeling the darkness incubating and birthing within the two children in the room... or maybe it was the morphine. In any case, his mind was in such a state that he did not even recognize that they were the ones he'd rescued.

Mrs. Dawson's piercing gaze softened slightly when the boy did as he very well should have, in terms of manners, and offered their places back. Mr. Dawson gave the youth an appraising look up and down. "Jackson." he muttered to himself, finding the mental image of the very old grandfather of whom the young master spoke. Then a bit louder as he shuffled his wife to her seat "A pleasure to meet you young man"; he offered his hand for brisk, firm, shake. The couple sat down and Sakura Rose drew her legs up without a second thought to make room for Caleb.

Both adults looked at their dolllike daughter and the same question was on their minds, and they did not need to verbalize it: Do we need to remove this boy, is he a distraction, a bother, or a threat? There was a roar of cheers and applause coming from the TV and Sakura Rose told them both calmly "It's okay. I was lonely and he was keeping me company." Stephen Clay handed off his guitar to a stagehand and prepared for the next song while Caleb had his say. Sakura Rose giggled and said, "Maybe the hors d'erves made your internal clock a little off, the concert has started already!" she grins and points at the TV.

At this point Mrs. Dawson interjects "Also it would be completely unacceptable for a girl of her age to go off alone to some concert with a bo--" at the word 'with' Mr. Dawson overlapped with her and said "With somebody Sakura Rose" with a deliberate pause after her second given name "has just met and barely knows." Unlike the emotional mother-hen reaction of the girl's mother, the father had the youth pinned with logic... everyone who actually knew their daughter beyond superficial aquaintance knows that she insists on being called by both names, and there is no recovery from that. "It was very kind of you to offer, and I am confident our family will sort out any ill feelings with The Marques in our own way."

At the hearty "Hello Port Charles! I'm Stephen Clay!" from the television, the sillouette of a man in a wheelchair appeared in the doorway grumbling something.

Sakura Rose visibly pouted at her parents' firm resolve but knew that as long as she did not whine, they would be gentle as well, and allow her to watch the concert, and perhaps invite the Jacksons for tea at another time. "That's really cool. Thank you so much for the offer anyways, Caleb!" Then, she heard the first five keyboard notes of the song "Naked Eyes" coming from the television, repeated again, and it was almost as if a drug went through her... a very nice one, she nestled down in the blankets and began to hum and even sing parts of the song, with no knowledge that a handful of her friends and aquaintances were witnessing this performace first hand, without relying on cable to transmit the experience to their own eyes and ears, and even souls...

Caleb was at first confused by her father's exaggerated pause. Was he being haughty? Nevertheless it was clear their suspicions abut anyone approaching their daughter were too strong for even his charisma. It would be awhile before he realized that he hadn't been listening when Sakura Rose had first introduced herself, too busy planning and reading the girl. It would be even longer, years even, before he would have grown up to realize that he never really listened at all.

But that is the future, and in the present Caleb would simply apologize and move forward with the small impression he'd made on Sakura Rose later. At least she'd liked him a bit, and he had learned many important things about her and her family. But that was a booby prize compared to the grand scheme he'd cooked up minutes before. Behind his teeth an apology was being readied that would further establish that he was a harmless young man but before his mouth was opened a senile old man wheeled into the room through the doorway.

He looked familiar- yes, this was the man who had been talking with his grandfather! Count Dante Escobar. What on earth had happened to him? "Sir!" Exclaimed Caleb, standing up to approach the count. " The count was wheezing loudly and wincing, a sure sign of pain. Caleb did not want to force a reply by questioning him. He then turned his face to Sakura Rose's parents. "This man is a recent acquaintance of my Grandfathers," he said to them.

Perfect. He was leaving the family with an impression of goodness, of gentility, and of familial loyalty. This was a friend of his grandfathers, and he was honor bound to help him, as well as because he is just a nice person. A wonderful nice harmless person.

Alfred wiped some of the blood from his vomit away from his lip as he pleasantly asked, "Ah, hello, is this a Ms. Faith Bard? This is Alfred Churchill, I'm not sure you've heard of me, but I'm in need of a highly skilled painter and my sources tell me that you are exactly who I'm looking for. I'm prepared to pay you quite well madam."

HE glanced at faith as she left and dragged her back inside he didn't have time for this he secured her seat belt closing the doors and leaning back. "For god sake get us to this concert before i kill someone." he muttered quietly to Arthur who set off driving he then lent back silent allowing the two girls on the phone to talk. He glanced to apple. "Am i picking up anyone else....if so please give me an address so we may head over there." he couldn't hide the mixture of fear and annoyance in his voice. He had plans and felt like these two girls would ruin him if he let them. He was more scared of being alone with them and was more then happy to pick up this 'mj' who he believed was Merrick and needed the male company. He smiled softly to himself "I apologize, i am not use to female company."

Luckily for Merrick, the malt shop wasn't that far away, relatively; only a few blocks away, a mile at most, from the estate. He walked along at the most dreadfully dull pace. Out of the frying pan... He wondered silently what possessed that girl to bother him all the time with whatever it was that she happened to be doing at any given point. He'd always thought he'd made it clear that he'd prefer she didn't include him in her antics. The wind picked up as the sun began to set. The change in temperature was palpable, at least a ten degree drop. But this was the prettiest time of day. During most hours, the sun was largely blotted out with the clouds, and every inch of New Haven sat in an interminable color wash, everything tinted with a vague opaqueness. Strange, then, that the world seemed to have the most color while the sun set and the world would soon plunge into darkness, but he supposed that was to be expected.

Transition bred contrast and contrast was the only thing that made anything definable whatsoever. He raised his collar to the wind.

Outside the Sarsaparilla, Merrick saw the very same Faith Bard standing and talking on the phone until she was rudely pulled into a car by some unknown person whom he assumed was Apple, except... the girl was rarely so... physical and that was obviously not her car. Merrick walked cautiously up to the car and knocked on the window.

"Excuse me", he said.

From inside, Apple looked out on Merrick with a bemused sort of smile and rolled down the window.

"Hey, Merrick, what's up? Jump in", said Apple.

"What? Where are we going", Merrick inquired.

"Relax. We're going to an art show. Tonight's the last night", said Apple with an air of innocence.

"Really? That seems strange..."

"Why, do I seem uncultured to you? You think you're the only one that can enjoy the finer things? Jeeze, when did you get such a swelled head", said Apple with mock indignation.

Merrick rolled his eyes but got in and sat across from the others.

"Hello, my name is Merrick Jacobi Sebastian Ames Sombres", he said, holding out his hand to shake at the two new kids.

"That's MJ for short-", chimed in Apple.

"-It's Merrick", said Merrick.

"-Or Ricky", said Apple.

"Just Merrick will do", replied Merrick definitely, but otherwise showed very little in the way of emotional response to Apple's cajoling. Since the Faith Bard character appeared to be on the phone, this was directed mostly at Kataro.

The Count looked up to the young boy offering his services to him and said gruffly, "What? -breath- Get the hell -breath- away from me -breath- boy! I don't know where -breath- those filthy hands -breath- have been!"

He fell into short and shallow breathing which was beginning to make him a bit lightheaded. His nurse, meanwhile, appeared to be reading an "Archie" comic book. He opened and closed his mouth a few times to put some moisture back into his tongue. But then, something from the TV resounded, causing no small amount of reaction from the Count.

"Hello Port Charles! I'm Stephen Clay!"

The voices in his head, already an orchestra of alarm, yelled loudly, "LIAR! HE LIES! DO NOT BELIEVE HIS LIES!", and so on. And after several minutes of sitting with these voices growing ever greater in decibel, he finally stood straight up and said quite loudly, his eyes wide open, his body rigid and tense, "THAT MAN IS NOT WHO HE SAYS HE IS! THAT MAN IS NOT STEPHEN CLAY! THAT MAN IS CALEB MORLEY AND HE IS A VAMPIRE!"

And then, suddenly, he fell back down into his chair, his nurse staring at him with a confused sort of unsure expression. What was to be done about the Count?

Kataro looked up at the knock and once Merrick got in the car he sighed in relief. He smiled at him and took the offered hand "Kataro Sousuke, heir of the Sousuke estate. It is a pleasure to meet you Merrick." he kept his formalities up as Arthur began to pull away. and towards the concert. Secretly Kataro was regretting leaving his house, what with the now pounding headache and light nausea he was beginning to feel. Maybe the gas leak was making them all ill, even though they had survived it was killing them slowly from within. As he sat there formulating the possible ways the person had intended to end their life there was only one thing that seemed certain to him. If someone had tried to kill them, they were an expert. The had their ends covered. He sighed softly glancing up at Merrick again. He wondered if he was the youngest here and hoped the female attention would shift to Merrick,it was only appropriate, right? He sighed as he drew near the concert area in utter silence. He could only hope this day would draw to a close soon be it with fire of fireflies he was beginning to find himself caring less and less.

Caleb flinched at the Count's barked reply but quickly gained his composure. Standing so he was no longer level with the count, he turned to the Dawsons. "Pleased to have made your acquaintance." he said, with a formal and straight manner that quite contrasted how he had appeared to Sakura Rose. Caleb then returned to his room.

In his room, Caleb wiped the frustration and all negative emotions suffered from his failed encounter with the Dawsons from his mind as well as he could. He'd learned plenty about them- and if he had failed to make a good impression, well, at least he would see them again. Last night's suit was folded and sitting by his bed. His cell phone was still in the pants pocket, so he called for a driver. He wanted to go home and at least change clothes. No, wait. He wanted to stay out. The business day was already done and to go home instantly would cause concern and fawning. Still, clothes and a bath were needed. A servant would be on his way to pick up Caleb quite soon.

Caleb assessed the situation with the Dawsons as he dressed, now sans embarrassment he understood exactly how to be to win. If the girl had shown him more favor, he would have a connection through that. But Sakura Rose had no respect for friendliness, she was not the sort to like you because you had something in common. No. She'd been willing to give up something she was passionate for, and happily, to an authority figure. Caleb presumed the girl was young enough to not know or want any relationship that was not submissive-in fact, her distain for the other child guests at the party convinced Caleb that she may not even want friends... At least, not the kind other children had. He smiled knowing that he'd learnt enough about her parents to emulate what they gave her.


As he walked towards the hospital exit clothed in last night's suit and tie, Caleb continued to plan. What strange priorities Sakura Rose had. For someone to be passionate about giving in- to Caleb, a selfish boy if there ever was one, it was entirely alien. He knew she would become his ally, as a personality like hers, strange as it was, was extremely useful. He continued planning, his thoughts branching out to include the other families he needed to ally with. The car ride home, as usual, was silent.

----

Seventeen minutes later two doberman pinchers, hulking specimens of their breed, barked once in unison as the car pulled into the driveway of the Jackson's manor. That was their code for "Family" Two barks meant "Guest," and three or more meant "something bad". "Something bad" had not approached the house for many generations of dogs, but they were prepared.

"Crow." Said Caleb as the driver opened the car door. Caleb patted his arm with his palm and then pointed to the house. The dog then knew to accompany him up to the door where Caleb then stroked Crow's ears a few times while other servants opened the mansion's grand doors for him. "Entrance, Crow. Good boy." Caleb said warmly to the dog, who turned and trotted back as Caleb walked towards his room. Two of the seven nurses who lived on the estate, mostly to care for Grandfather Jacob, had been waiting for him, and to their questions of health Caleb replied "I'm fine" with cold confidence.

His room was furnished with heirlooms- the rug passed down from generations, that like the wall tapestry's bore a family crest. His bed was four-postered and claw footed, but empty. "Where is Bessa?" Caleb inquired of the nurses who'd followed him into his room. "I'm going to take a bath. Find Bessa to keep me company."

Five minutes later, Caleb was gleefully placing clouds of soap bubbles onto his favorite dog's head, a huge doberman with a scar on her side. She was the alpha of the Jackson dog guard, and she would sit still until Caleb placed on the necessary amounts of bubbles to make her look like a doggy version of santa claus or a powdered-wig wearing politican. Caleb would then cry "Shake!" At which point she would shake her head as all wet dogs do and send the bubbles flying around. This never failed to entertain Caleb, and as baths were a very boring task only Bessa could be trusted to keep him company.

Soon he was dressed. 40 minutes had passed since Caleb had left the hospital. Now, what to do.

Faith took the few seconds to have outside to answer the man on the phone. Although she really did not seem to have to to speak about a job with him. That normally was her father's or mother's job. Since honestly Faith hated when clients called her phone.

"Yes yes." She started to say to the man. "As you may be a where I have a gallery tomorrow night at seven. If you would like to speak there-" Although she was cut off by being dragged into the car.

She glanced to Kataro, but did not say a thing as she continued. "I believe it would simply be easier to get your point across in person, No?" Faith was honestly not trying to come come as rude. Just she certainly was not a people person.

She had in fact noticed Merrick getting into the car. She shot him a simple smile. Unable to speak to him at that moment. She knew him from a few gatherings. Although did not know him directly.

((Sorry its short, Letting Graxdon reply^^ lol))