Enzi glanced around, browsing. He leaned up against the wall, uninterested. He sighed and closed his eyes. Why was he even there? He should be back home, escaping the sunlight. Not because he would melt. But because when in the sun, he shimmered like a prism of a million colors.

The little girl had an awful cough these passed few weeks, and Ronni did all she could to suppress it. Anything to keep from drawing attention to herself. But a tiny cough escaped her throat, and she pressed her hands over her mouth to stifle it as best she could, looking around the place warily.

His eyes flickered to the cages the cough had come from. His eyes went liquid. Not with tears, but with pity. A girl her age should be anywhere but here. Not in a cage in a shop for vampires. But out living her life. He sighed again, unable to think straight now.

Ronni noticed that one of these creatures was watching her, and she quickly turned her gaze back to the ground, forcing her chest-cold to cease. Her fingers ran along the smooth, yet stained metal around her left wrist; a shock bracelet, which also hindered her previous attempts of escape.

He swiftly passed the cages and was at the little girls' in seconds. He bent down, examining her through every aspect. His topaz eyes shimmered with remorse. He didn't know what to say...Unsure of how to treat a ten year-old. Adding to the fact she was trapped in a cage, waiting for one of his kind to buy her.

Ronni looked up fearfully at the vampire, her blue eyes wide with panic. She instinctively reached up to touch the two tiny puncture marks on her neck from the last time she'd been with one of these beings, and her throat closed up from her fear.

Enzi chuckled to himself. "No need to be scared little one..." he whispered soothingly. He reached a hand up to her face, gliding one finger down her jaw slowly. "I won’t hurt you..." he whispered. He pulled his hand away and watched her, unsure of what to do.

The little girl shivered at his icy touch, and she shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. Her breathing quickened, causing another spasm of coughs to erupt from her chest, and she covered her mouth promptly, watching him in horror despite his efforts to sooth her.

Enzi sighed again. "You poor thing....." he glanced around the dim room unsure of where the shopkeeper was. He scooted back a ways, smelling her fear of him. He sighed, thinking over weather to buy her or not, knowing it'd be wrong. But this was worse. Leaving her here was like murder. He shook his head, still pondering on what to do.

"Can I help you?" came a gruff and grisly voice from behind Enzi, and Ronni backed away as far as her bindings would allow. The man, or vampire more like, who spoke was short and burly with greasy hair that hung in his black eyes. The girl shook her head to herself, restraining another cough as she listened, waiting for the inevitable. The man glared down at Enzi. "Well?" he prompted rudely.

Enzi stood back up, in one swift motion. "Yes, actualy...I would....like to buy her..." he said, slightly gesturing towards Ronni. He halfheartedly smiled at the little girl, hoping to sooth her out of her fear of him.

Ronni wasn't looking. Her eyes were closed and her hand rose once again to brush across the scar on her neck as she listened to their conversation. "That little maggot?" the man questioned, rolling his eyes. "She’s not worth much. Just take her. Free of charge. At least she'll be off our hands and we won't have to spend the extra money to keep her alive."

Enzi almost attacked the man right there. But he restrained himself, in fear of frightening her further. He turned back to Ronny, one hand extended out. "Come on little one, don't be afraid..." he whispered. His topaz eyes searched her face. He thought about what he would do with her, or rather the choice she would make for herself.

The man scoffed at Enzi's decision, reaching into his pocket and thrusting two objects into Enzi's palm: a knife, and a tiny remote. "Cut her ropes, and here's the remote for the bracelets," was all he said before stomping off to help another customer. Ronni stared after him, silent as the grave.

Enzi scowled at the remote. He tossed it away, not ever going to need it. He gently took Ronni's ropes and sliced them with the knife. He took her wrists in his hands and examined the bracelets. "I'll get those off of you somehow.." he said mostly to himself. He smiled sweetly at her again, standing up, and holding out his hand for her to take. "Don't be scared..." he said soothingly.

Ronni's brow furrowed in confusion as she saw the tiny remote clatter to the ground a few feet away. She finally looked up at him, both puzzled and still slightly apprehensive of him, but she slowly reached out, timidly taking his hand as it was offered. She didn't know what to think, or do for that matter, but right now, it seemed that this was her best option.

A smiled spread across his lips. Nodding, Enzi walked towards the door. He looked down at the little girl, "My name's Enzi....You are..?" he asked questiongly. He reached the door in a few minutes, holding it open for her to walk out first.

She hesitated, staring out the door into the blackened sky. It had already grown dark out, and the moonlight seemed to bathe her in an eerie glow as she finally took that step outside into the night air. At his inquiry, she opened her mouth to speak, but instead croaked out another cough before she was able to answer. Finally, gaining control, she rasped quietly and shyly, "Ronni, sir."

Enzi stepped out after her, gently taking her hand in his. "Please, I'm not your master. No need for formality." he paused. "You have a lovely name Ronni..." he smiled. He walked toward his car at the end of the dark ally way, thinking of what to tell her once they were away from listening ears and prying eyes.

Ronni nervously stared at her feet as he led her to the vehicle, her free hand wringing the hem of her shirt. Not her master? That's not what her previous "owner" had said. He had been a cruel master. How could this one, Enzi, be so kind when the others were so awful? She glanced up at him briefly with a perplexed spark in her eye, then stared back down at the ground once more, thinking.

He chuckled to himself, as he opened the passenger door. He then walked around to the other side. He was in the car before she could say 'go'. He waited patiently for her to climb in, turning the key's in the ignition. the Rabbit purred as it sat in idle, waiting for her.

Ronni slowly climbed in, not quite afraid, but still extremely apprehensive and wary of him. What human wouldn't be in the presence of such a creature? Especially a girl so young. It was like a mouse under the eyes of a cunning hawk. Prey in the wake of predator. Which is exactly what she was. Closing the door behind her, she fastened her seatbelt, but scooted as close to the window as she could.

Enzi glanced over at her. "Don't be afraid...I'm giving you an option here...." he paused as he thought about what to say. "You have two choices. One, you can come live with me. Safely of course, I would never hurt you. Or, you can go free. And never have to see me again." his voice saddened when he spoke the last line. He had been alone for a while. He missed the presence of another being.

Ronni looked over at him, examining his expression thoughtfully as she mulled over his alternatives. Her hands were fidgeting anxiously in her lap, tensing and relaxing as she turned her head once more to stare forward. What could she do? If she left, how would she make it on her own, and how could she avoid just being dragged back to that awful place by another vampire? She sighed, shaking her head before glancing back at Enzi once again. Was that sadness she detected in his expression? Her own eyes were swimming with unasked questions and unmentioned torments, and she gave a slow, polite nod. "I...I'll stay," she piped, her voice almost a whisper.