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Oh, it's been longer than you might think since I turned 18. I'm like Alexei.

WHAT?!

::stares at this... thing with his brother's face in fear, growing pale. What if he'd hurt Joe and that's why he looked like him? He starts to panic:: What's your name?

[smirks slightly and gives a low bow] Joseph Deluca, Vampire King of New York, at your service. [he straightens, arching an eyebrow] And you?

Joseph? You - Did you hurt my brother? Why do you look like him? [tries not to panic but is starting to hyperventilate at the idea of his Joe getting hurt] I-I'm Nick.

[arches an eyebrow] Your brother? I haven't hurt anyone in the last 24 hours, certainly not someone who looked like me. Though... [he runs his eyes up and down Nick] I could ask you why you look like my Edward. Would you be able to answer that?

[can't help the tiny whimper that escapes his lips, still not assured his Joe is okay] So you didn't hurt him? [looks down at himself, suddenly thrown off by that statement] I do? No, I wouldn't be able to.

Cross my heart, I didn't hurt him, Nick. I'd be too fascinated by the fact that he looks like me. [smiles softly and nods] You too. Well, he was younger than you when he died.

[calms down now that the most important thing is established. He raises an eyebrow] Do vampires have hearts? [he sounds more curious than rude] And oh... So he's a va- he's like you too?

Mmm, metaphorically. Well, physically as well, but they don't really beat, of course. [shakes his head] No, Edward was human when he died. He was sickly and I tried to turn him. He...he was too weak, and he died before I could give him my blood.

[tries to wrap his head around vampires existing and not having beating hearts] Right. Of course... [his faces softens as he listens] Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. Did you have a relationship with him? I mean you called him yours so I assumed...

[smiles softly] He was my king. He appointed me as his Lord Protector, which made me his top adviser. We were close but he died before I could express my feelings.

[frowns slightly, saddened] Oh.... I'm very sorry. I'm sure he knew somehow how you felt. When someone cares that much about you, you can tell even without words.

I hope so. I often wonder if... [shakes his head a little, smiling softly] I'm sorry if Alexei scared you.

Wonder what? [his eyebrows go up and he realizes he's no longer freaking out] Um... that's okay? I just didn't know vampires were real...

You aren't the first with his face I've run into over the years.

[mouth drops open] Really? I've seen others around here with my face and it's crazy but you- Really?

Really. Not often, but you are the fourth.

Fourth?! [frowns] Well there goes my idea of being an individual....

You are an individual, Nick. You may have his face, but your spirit, your personality is your own.

Maybe... [thinks about that but then looks at Joseph again] You're nothing like how I'd imagine a vampire to be

No? How did you imagine a vampire to be? As we are portrayed in the movies?

[smiles sheepishly] Pretty much... I don't have much else to go on

Mmm, well, there is some truth to those movies. Much like humanity, there are good vampires and then there are very horrible vampires, as well as everything in between. In my younger days, I was something of a savage.

[looks at the other curiously] How old are you? And I guess you'd have to be be pretty composed to be a king, huh?

[chuckles] Very, very old. I was born in 550 AD. Joseph is not my real name, but if I were to tell you what my mother called me, I doubt you would believe me.