Margie walked through the crowd, enjoying Conversion Day, but concerned at the same time. She'd wanted to come, she really had. Even though she loved Nick the best, she also cared for LaCroix, even though it wasn't in the same way as the Addicts did. But she still didn't know if LaCroix knew anything about that little incident at the Jewelled Peach, and if he found out.... Granted, he was mortal right now, but he might not be for long, and even as a mortal nearly 2000 years ago, he had been formidable.

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she nearly bumped into someone. She was about to say, "Excuse me," but when she looked up, the words died in her throat. It was him!

"Uh... Sir... Ge-General... S-Sir," she stammered.

A smile crossed LaCroix' face, but it was the sort of smile that makes you think that in a minute, your head's going to be gone. "This one appears to have the right attitude of fear," thought LaCroix. Of course, he knew which faction she was with. LaCroix made it his business to know those things. He decided to press his, quite considerable, advantage.

"Cousins of the Knight," he said, with that smile. "You call yourselves, Cousins, but you do not follow me," he continued, his voice and expression becoming threatening.

"Y-yes Sir, n-no Sir, y-yes," Margie stammered, as she tried to think of something to say. "It's actually an honor to you, sir," she finally said.

He continued to stare at her.

"U-using the word, Cousins, in our name, which everyone knows is a word associated with you, even though we're not actually your followers, is actually an honor to you." It was true, in a sense, Margie thought to herself.

LaCroix' smile returned, this time one of satisfaction. Yes, an honor to him. He conveniently ignored that the word, "Knight", was in the faction name also, and decided to accept the honor due him.

Still, there was more that this trembling woman in front of him was frightened of. Even without his enhanced vampire senses, that was obvious. He continued to stare at her, waiting, his face becoming stern.

Suddenly she blurted out, "They didn't mean anything by it, Sir! They did it to protect her! They were afraid they might kidnap her or something!

LaCroix had absolutely no idea who the "her" was that was being referred to, or who the various "they's" were, but of course, he didn't reveal that. He merely continued listening, with an attitude on his face as if he knew exactly what she was talking about.

"A faction is kind of like a family," she was saying, earnestly now. "We had to protect one of our family," she said.

LaCroix' face softened. His smile became kinder, although with a bit of noblesse oblige in it, but also, Margie thought, a bit of sadness.

"Of course," he said, quietly. "One has to protect one's family. We will speak no more about this."

"Th-thank you, Sir," said Margie.

The once and, Margie hoped, future vampire disappeared into the crowd. Margie felt her knees go weak with relief, but she was also happy that LaCroix had seemed to understand.