Silas: Now that I've sent Liri off, I should try and... What's this?

Silas: A letter... of challenge? People still do these things? And it's not signed either...

~I challenge you to a duel at the Solitude docks, Silas of Clan Volstikar. If you are truly as powerful as they say, you won't hesitate on accepting. Come immediately...~

Silas: That's it? Concise and to the point... And more than likely a trap. Only vampires and vampire hunters would know who I am, and only the former would know where I dwell...

Silas: *grins* Heh, but trap or not, it's about time I put these old bones to use once again.

Silas: Maybe this challenger will put up a fight. Heh, one can dream...

Meanwhile at the docks...

???: Grrrr! He's late! Who does he think he is making me wait like this! Even if Darius was right and he was the supposed head of an infamous clan...

???: He ought to have the common courtesy to not make a lady wait! Anyway... I've got to make sure not to get too banged up, otherwise Bishop will—

Silas: Talking to yourself, little nobody?

???: *twitches* So... You've finally decided to show up. Took your sweet time.

Silas: Upset that you had to wait, shorty?

???: You have one more time to call me that...

Silas could feel the pink haired girl's killing intent surge, but ignored it.

Silas: So you've got something of a height complex? Well it's not my fault you're so small. That's on your progenitor—

???: That's it! I won't deny that challenging you like this had my nerves on end, but your lack of respect... Your constant pushing...

Silas: Do... Do I know you?

???: *glares* And your lack of awareness has infuriated me to no end! Darius said not to do this... BUT I DON'T CARE!!!

Faster than Silas anticipated, the pink haired vampire lunged at him and stabbed him in the dead center of his chest, causing Silas's shouts to fill the air.

???: Thought you were big and bad! Then and now, you thought you could just get away with saying whatever you pleased!

She twisted the blade viciously.

???: Guess it's time to... Wait! What are you—

Before the girl could react, Silas caught her with a double ax-handle to the back of her skull, causing here to crash into the docks...

Due to his unusual blood, the wound almost instantly sealed, but for some reason Silas didn't feel at ease...

Silas: You thought that a thrust from a blade that's not even silver, but ebony, would be enough to fell me?

???: You...

Shaking off any injuries, she fell into an offensive stance.

???: You wouldn't believe the number of mortals that have fallen to this 'mere' ebony dagger.

Silas: *grins* I like that little one. That passion, that vigor. Even if your movements betray you as an assassin, why hide behind the mask? Are you afraid of what I may see?

???: I'm NOT hiding! And I'm not afraid of any... Afraid of anything... AND STOP CALLING ME LITTLE!!

Silas: *sighs* Your actions also betray your words. You challenge me. You know all about me, and yet I've no right to know who you are? A tad unfair don't you think?

Seeing the sense in his words, the vampire threw off her mask to reveal what looked to be a rather attractive Mer.

???: Hmph! Satisfied?

Silas: Well yeah... You're not an eyesore that's for sure. But there's something about you that seems so familiar... Like I've seen you be—

Suddenly an image of a youthful looking vampire appeared before Silas's eyes.

???: ...NUHUH! This means war pretty boy. I'll make that face even prettier for you...

Silas: Haha! Well would you look who it is! How's it been, little Rosalie?

Silas: And you still haven't learned to show respect to your elders.

Rosalie: As if you've done anything to earn it. And like I said before, it seems like only one of us has lived long enough to be polite.

Without another word, Rosalie lunged at Silas again, intent on hurting him in anyway possible. However, once she got close enough to him...

She found herself launched backwards and onto her butt.

Rosalie: Ouch! What gives? You put up a barrier this time?

Rosalie: That's no fair!

Silas: Open your eyes child.

Rosalie glared at him and when she saw what had become of him, a wave of panic coursed though her.

Silas: And you know that this is only the beginning...

Rosalie: You wouldn't! You wouldn't dare harm *gulp* little ol' me... Would you?

Silas: I still don't know if this was an actual challenge or an assassination attempt. If it's the latter, then I'll take extreme pleasure in being able to become a Vampire Lord again...

Silas: But if it's the former, then how about we stop here for today and do a bit of catching up? It's been so long since we've... talked.

Rosalie: *mumbles* Fine...

Silas: See, now that wasn't so bad right?

Rosalie: ...Do you like this? Do you like looking down at me?

Silas: I mean, no matter what I'll always be looking down on you, and I must say... The view is pretty damn nice.

Rosalie: If you make one more short joke...

Again Silas felt her urge to kill him rise. However this time...

He had something for that.

Silas: Do I wish to see you weak? No, not at all. And even if you're not pure-blooded such as myself, you've got a certain regality to you that I rather enjoy...

Silas: However, I am serious when I say to show me the proper respect I am due. *moves his hand closer to her face* Do I make myself clear, child?

Rosalie: *bitterly* ...I understand.

Silas: (Shock and anger, but not fear. Whoever turned her doesn't know the extent of the fire that this girl has.) Alright then, now tell me what this was all about.

Silas: So you mean to tell me that you challenged me because this Bishop didn't believe you to be strong enough to do it, and this Darius thought you simply wouldn't do it?

Rosalie: I know that they both believe I'm strong, but sometimes I just want to prove to them that I can do more, way more than they expect of me...

Silas: (And I'm to be this mountain she's to climb...) *turns away* By the Divines... You got m all worked up for nothing! You stupid stupid girl...

Rosalie: Hey! I know that it may have seemed like a foolish reason to you, but to me—

Silas: I don't need to hear your excuses. You. Owe. Me. From now on, every three days, I'll push you past your limits and make you surge with power you only ever dreamed of...

Rosalie: Owe you? I don't owe you...!!! Wait, are you saying that you'll train me?

Rather than answer her, Silas simply walked away in the direction of Solitude.

Rosalie: Wait! This definitely sound like...

Rosalie sighed and gathered herself.

Rosalie: If I can get but a tenth of his strength when he's going all out, then I'm sure those two would look at me differently...

Meanwhile... As he was returning back to Solitude...

Silas finally stopped feigning strength, and fell to a knee in the middle of the road.

Silas: Shit... It was only an ebony dagger, and the wound seemed to heal almost instantly...

Silas: But what is this pain... This mortal pain that I haven't felt for over three hundred years...

Straightening himself up, Silas looked back towards the docks and smiled.

Silas: If things fall through with Liri, perhaps I can impart my strength onto Rosalie, and have her carry out my will...