Clarence

Steel sits out on the porch stooped over with her head in her hands when Doctor Carol walks out to sit beside her, "Steel...you been out here a long time."

"My contacts all of a sudden dropped their connection with me...Christian is gone from our sights and Clarence has gone missing."

"Actually I just got a call about Christian." Doctor Carol says Steel's eyes light up.

Steel pushes away getting up to her feet jumping up to Carol in glee, he adjusts his coat looking worn out as the sun starts to come up.

"Where is he?" Steel begs to know.

"He is at home...apparently he somehow walked home and collapsed."

"Oh my goodness...do we go to pick him up, Carol?"Steel asks worriedly.

Doctor Carol sticks his hand up in her face.

"I need to go to bed before the sunrise princess, but no he is ordered to come here."

"I am so relieved!"

"Let Christian take care of his personal problems, no need to intrude, but..."

"But...?"

"I was warned Christian is fully overtaken by the Devil's Assistant now."

"I will contact Mars...he can't wait for this anymore."Steel declares running inside, Doctor Carol follows her in walking very slowly.

"You do that, I need to make it to my coffin before I pass out."

Steel starts to hum watching Carol go down the steps, a crash could be heard down the staircase, "Carol are you okay?"

He doesn't answer, Steel gradually makes her way down to check on him; she sees no sight of Doctor Carol taking a quick peek around.

"Carol? Carol, are you okay?"Steel cries out as she creeks down the steps, a arm reaches from under; she screams loudly.

Doctor Carol giggles bumping his head on the underside of the steps above him, "Got you!"

"You filthy bastard of an archaic old man!" Steel cries, automatically stopping mid-way in her words she stands there silently.

Carol lights a cigarette observing her anger dissolve, "I miss Clarence..."

"I know princess, we will find him...but, he is a big boy and can take care of himself." Doctor Carol says muffled chewing on the stick trying to talk.

"It must have to do with that guy we saw who took Alex...surely..."

"Surely?

"Clarence knew who he was, but I never met him before."

"Do you know anything about Clarence, Steel?" Doctor Carol asks opening his casket, he gets in without closing the lid yet merely relaxing with Steel sitting on the staircase.

"It doesn't matter where he came from Doctor Carol..."

"It might matter to save him." Doctor Carol replies leaning down to put his light out, Steel lets her head hit the side of the door in deep thought.

The light of day rises into the windows as Carol drops the lid down startling Steel.

She strolls over to his pine box knocking on the top covering angrily many times.

"Go to sleep Steel!" Doctor Carol responds, his voice is stifled; she storms off to her room, throughout the day she tosses and turns unable to sleep.

His non-existent presence lingered empty by her bedside gently letting her fingers run through the sheets on his side of the bed, Clarence has his own room, but the two would often sleep in the same bed together.

All she could think was how she found him, he was in an alley being beaten for begging for blood from some passer-by; he didn't even put up a fight.

Clarence was too weak, he had no true focus in his life at the time and had no one with a concern for his well-being, he also had none for himself.

After the company had closed they were all ousted wearing the scrubs on their back that they were forced to wear, Steel stood there with her hand out.

He was embarrassed by his dirtied appearance, Steel stood out like a princess embraced by warm roses to him; her tender touch frightened him.

Clinging to the wall, he started to show signs of anxiety, his skin became clammy and sweaty when she tried to help him get up, "What did you say your name?"

"Clarence..." He replies shyly, she had to coax him to accompany her, her pursuit to help him was not only because he was a vampire, but because he was endangering himself and others.

They arrive at Steels compound Doctor Carol had to drag him out of the car into the medical bay which at the time had one room that originally been a storage room, he ended falling asleep there due to capacity error.

He was grateful to even have room to sleep in, he would wake, but spend many hours on his own, he lacked the confidence to speak up about his needs.

Steel felt miserable without Clarence, his endlessly giving personality always concerned with how she was feeling, he was more than willing to give his all for her, she gets up to check on James.

Since he came home the only thing he did was meditate, she wondered what he was doing in his own world, was he okay despite being unable to verbally communicate?

As she turned to leave he noticed him murmuring something to himself.

For a moment she thought she saw his true self through the blinding light of the after sun beating down on him, "James..."