The heart may freeze, or it can burn...

Vlad curled up in his mothers lap and patted the book with his hand. "Mama..." he mumbled sleepily.
Aliceabella kissed his head and began looking at names.

Ryland chuckled when the younger vampire's expression changed as he tried not to make an offensive comment.

Aliceabella turned onto the page of Romanian names and squeaked in surprise as Vlad ripped the page out and stuffed it into his mouth. "You can't eat paper Vladdy," Aliceabella muttered, taking the paper out of her son's mouth.

The old doctor, however, did not have such qualms, "Broke your nose again?"

Ryland rolled his eyes.

Vlad began slapping his hands on the book, smiling happily. Aliceabella shook her head and carried on looking for a name. Considering she didn't know if it was a boy or a girl, it was a little hard.

"You should spend more time looking after the clan and less running around trying to break your enemies' spirit," the doctor got everything ready and motioned to the examining table.

Ryland sat, stubbornly silent.

Vlad crawled to the edge of the bed and tumbled off, rolling around on the carpet.
Aliceabella frowned and looked down at her son, "Having fun Vladdy?"

The doctor shook his head and examined Ryland's nose. "Fixed it yourself."

Aliceabella picked Vlad up and placed him in his crib, kissing her son on the nose.

"Just give it time. You should put ice on it," The doctor smirked.

Ryland grunted and started for the door.

"Go to sleep Vlad," Aliceabella sat down and began flicking through the name book again.
"Papapa?" Vlad looked around the room.

The doctor shook his head, nothing more to say to Ryland as the younger man left the room and headed back down the hall.

"Your never going to see your real father," Aliceabella muttered quietly.
Vlad put one of the blankets in his mouth. "Papapa.."

Dane knocked on Aliceabella's door and removed the necklace from his pocket, "Aliceabella, it's me."

Aliceabella quickly moved to the door and opened it, allowing her brother to step into the room, "What's wrong?" She asked.
Vlad stared at Dane.

"I've got this." Dane held up the necklace, the green pendant shimmering.

Aliceabella frowned, faintly reconising it.
Vlad tried to climb out of his crib, reaching towards the necklace. "Papapapaaaaa!" He shrieked.

Dane shrugged and handed it to the wailing child.

Aliceabella's eyes widened, "Take it off him Dane." She whispered.
Vlad gurgled and put the necklace on, eyes suddenly going bright blue.

Ryland stopped by Aliceabella's room on his way, peeking in the door.

Dane frowned, "Why, what's wrong with him?" He went to take the necklace off Vlad and squeaked as the child bit him.

Aliceabella took a few steps back, shaking.
Vlad sunk his teeth into Dane's arm before letting go and hugging the necklace to him, his eyes going a shade lighter.

Ryland frowned and stepped into the room.

Dane stared down at the bite mark, "Is he supposed to have fangs?" He asked, talking to himself more than anyone else.

Aliceabella took another couple of steps backwards, not noticing Ryland until she walked into him. She squeaked and spun round, relaxing slightly as she saw who it was.
Vlad hissed at Dane, small swirls of darkness appearing between his fingertips.