Leaving the Light
By: Christine Schnell
Chapter 28
It appears my trust was well placed. Bram had not bitten me,
but he did love me, to the very core of my soul. I had felt it.
Even now as I lay half asleep on his chest the remnants were
still there. "God I never thought I could feel this way." I
whispered into his not too hairy chest. By his slow breathing I
thought he had been asleep, either that or my stirrings woke him
and he wrapped his arms around me and brushed my hair. "It's
like I was a part of you."
"You are."
I lifted my head to look at him. He fought me a little as he
didn't want to move from the comfortable position. "I don't
mean in love. I mean to say I felt you, your feelings. There
was a... I don't know... a connection, that enhanced all my
senses." This was so true, and I can tell you only a little of
what it was like. It was so early on, and my skills were so
under developed that even the smallest of senses overwhelmed me.
It was like, and in some ways was, being a virgin, and as
Madonna had said "Touched for the very first time."
He pressed my head back down to his chest. "Yes, there is a
mental connection between us. A bond, so to speak."
"Mental connection?" I asked. My mind flashed back to just a
few weeks before as I lay helplessly on the ground and I called
out to him in my mind. So it hadn't been a fluke?
"Yes, you have a very strong mind, for a human, with limited
telepathic abilities."
My head popped up again. "Limited?"
"You can only activate it under certain circumstances."
"Such as?"
He smiled. "You tell me, it's your mind."
He had me there. What exactly was this connection? I would
have to contemplate it. In the meantime his smile was
intoxicating and could not be ignored. I leaned down to take it
for my own and relaxed once more into the kiss.
We separated momentarily but only by a few thousandths of an
inch. "I thought only vampires were telepathic."
"How many times do I have to tell you; you are special."
"No, you're special." God, how corny can I be?
Ah, but when you're in love corniness is a way of life. I
embraced him and thought to myself how Lacey had under
exaggerated. He wasn't only one of the best, there was no one
else who could ever compare. He knew all of the right buttons
to press and just when I thought he couldn't please me more, he
found something else to send me over the edge. It wasn't like
other vampires who could read your mind to find out if you like
something or not. He knew before even touching me how I would
react. This wasn't reading my mind. This was knowing my mind,
a subtle, yet oh so important difference.
For the briefest and perhaps strangest moment, I knew his mind.
This is not to say that I understood him. Far from that, for
even now I don't always understand him. I knew how to please
him, and not in a sexual manor. I knew that to make him happy I
just had to be there in his arms, letting him protect me. I
certainly didn't have a problem with that. Really I'm not doing
the experience justice. It wasn't just a thing that made me
happy because I was making him happy. I felt his feelings of
happiness, the warmth and pressure of my body on his. I knew
his thoughts, not quite comprehended them, but saw pictures and
such that were so alien to me I knew they couldn't be mine.
Some of it was like a dream and had faded even while I lie
there.
There were pictures of people I thought I knew but didn't
recognize and then there was the strangest thing, thoughts of
me. Well, I think it was me, it was a woman who had features
like mine definitely, yet she seemed a little more aged and she
was wearing something I'd never wear, except at Kama's
insistence, a gown bespeckled with jewels and other frilly
things. She smiled back at me, or rather Bram and took his
hand. He was now laying on top of her, making love to her, just
as he was to me right then. The strangeness of this circle of
feelings, mine of him making love to me, feeling how it felt to
him and fantasizing about this woman, whom I couldn't help
thinking was me, at the same time was overwhelming and somehow
extremely erotic.
The clearest thing I felt in him came at that time. It was
joy. A joy beyond anything I could imagine, so much so that it
is what really overloaded my senses. This joy was accompanied
by a thought that confused me. "I have found her," his mind
said, "and I will never abandon her again." I would have asked
him what he meant by that, as we were in the middle of
passionate love making I didn't really think it was the right
time. I would just have to remember later.
The one who was in his thoughts moments before must have been
"her" which only solidified the fact to me that she and I were
one in the same. This, of course, made me feel much better
about it, as it would mean he wasn't fantasizing about another
woman. Whether I was just fooling myself or not, I didn't care.
For if I took anything away from that night it would be that I
truly felt I loved him. More so; he was, no doubt about it in
my mind and at the risk of sounding corny again, my soul mate.
I knew this just as I knew the sky was blue, even if I couldn't
see it.
Since I couldn't see the sky, nor the activities of others
outside the room, I really had no perception of time and had no
idea how long we had been there. However, I was hungry so it
was probably around dinner time, or was it breakfast? Nah, I
couldn't have been there that long, at least that's what I
thought then. I had the distinct feeling that Bram was hungry
too, though I knew he wouldn't say anything, so I brought it up,
"You know it's all right if you-"
"Thank you." He sat up on the edge of the bed with his back to
me. "I'm not going to use you like they do." He turned to look
at me and massaged my forearm. "You deserve more than that."
I couldn't help but smile. I was feeling self conscious of my
thoughts right then and of how much I didn't deserve him. He
kissed me, but he didn't linger instead he got up and started
dressing. "Stay here. I'll go get you something. What would
you like to eat?"
I held myself back trying to think of food and not his sexy
body. I had no idea what I was hungry for. "I don't know.
Just bring me something from the four food groups."
"All right, I shouldn't be gone long." With that he left me to
my own thoughts. How did I wind up here? In his bed? He was
my number one murder suspect. I knew now that he could not be.
I had no evidence, yet I knew for a certainty that this was
true. So I was back to square one. Squares and dead people
weren't the most important thing on my mind now. The rest of my
life was.
This night had changed everything. I was no longer a slave; I
was a lover. I was no longer a prisoner; I would stay with him
willingly. I was not forced to give blood; I would slit my
wrist for him, though suicide no longer seemed an option.
Running away couldn't possibly be the answer it would mean
leaving him. I couldn't imagine that I had wanted to leave at
one time. I couldn't imagine I was ever upset with him.
The only problem was I knew this couldn't last forever. I
couldn't stay here in this room with Bram for the rest of my
life. If I left it, I would be a common slave again, forced to
serve anyone that wanted me. Bram, I'm sure, would eventually
show me his darker side, he was a vampire it had to be in his
nature, even if I didn't see it when he and I shared minds.
At least for right now I could pretend. I could pretend he and
I were alone in the world. I could imagine that I had chosen
to be here with him now. Maybe he picked me up at a bar or a
softball game... Okay so I didn't have to pretend very hard on
that one, since he had more or less. Or I could pretend that we
lived in another time and place. He was my knight in shining
armor and he's just gone to get his trusty stallion to whisk me
away from this evil tower. He'd brandish his sword high and
kill the dragon.
I had focused on the sword he had encased on the wall. I got
up and took a closer look. I had noticed it a few times before
while I was in his room, but I never had the opportunity to look
at it really close. "This is beautiful." I muttered to myself.
I fingered the outline of the sharp blade behind the glass and
noted the fine craftsmanship and the well-oiled surface. He
obviously kept it well, but it had been neglected at one time,
the hilt had faded and was chipped, the dragon's head on the
pommel had been worn down, though you could tell it had once
been sharp and fierce. Despite that the head spiraled out
curving as if it was reaching for something or even strangling
it. The shape almost indicated that it had interlocking
capabilities with a matching dragon, for what purpose I wasn't
sure.
Over all it seemed a little familiar. It certainly looked old
enough to have been his sword hundreds of years ago. How old
did he say he was? 1300, 1400? No, 1516 to be exact. The
number just popped into my head. Was he reading my thoughts at
that moment or was I reading his? I shook my head. I didn't
want to think about it.
My eyes moved about the room, leaving the sword for now. Bram
had all sorts of interesting metal statuettes around the room.
All of which I had also admired from afar in the past. There
were wild horses, beautiful angels, and an abstract or two. The
abstracts had a lot of emotion in them, twisted metal exploding
in different directions. One made me think that the artist was
having a very bad day. Then the other was nearly its opposite.
It flowed like a waterfall over soft rocks, it gave me the
impression of a serene and happy time. I liked the contrasting
ideas of these. I wondered if the artist had been a former
slave or something, or if he had collected them over the years.
I couldn't really tell by looking at them if they had all been
done by the same hand, my impression was they weren't. He just
liked metal art work I guessed. I tried reaching out to him, to
see if I could tell. There was no answer. I shrugged, figuring
it would come in time.
There was little else in the room other than a couple abstract
paintings that didn't hold my interest, an empty desk and the
rest of the furniture. So my eyes wandered back to the piece I
liked most. The sword. I had an urge to take it out of it's
case and weigh it in my hands. It looked heavy, but I knew
better. Besides the one I stabbed Heremon with swords were
generally lighter than one would think. How I'd love to have
been able to use this sword to stab that little prick.
"I thought you would like it." Bram's voice echoed in my head.
No wait. It wasn't just in my head. I hadn't heard him come
in, but now the door shut loudly.
All this didn't faze me. "I've always had a thing for swords,
and dragons." I said as I traced the dragon's tail all the way
past the shoulder and slightly down the sword. He stood closely
behind me but not touching me. He was admiring me admiring the
sword. "Where'd you get it?"
"Oh I just picked it up." I felt the heat of his body behind
me. He was so close I couldn't turn around without bumping into
him before I was halfway turned, thus I just bent my head
towards him and looked at him awkwardly with my peripheral
vision. He could no longer get a lie past me. "All right, I
stole it."
"You Bram, the honorable vampire? Steal?" Well, at least that
explained why it was familiar to me; I must have heard about the
robbery.
"It was discovered in a tomb several hundred years ago. Two
hundred years ago when I heard of it, I just had to have it and
took it from the museum that was showing it." Then again
perhaps that's not why it was familiar to me. Two hundred years
ago was a long time, and I would have never heard of such a
robbery.
"Why was it so important to you?"
"The knight was..." He paused, probably remembering bygone
days. "a good friend."
"Who was it?" Bram never mentioned anything about his past,
and as I was seeing here, it was very hard to get anything out
of him.
He shrugged. "Just a knight." Was it just my imagination or
had the room gotten darker? The cacophony of battle filled the
air and metal clad men rushed about. Horses, swords, spears
flashed by my eyes. And then it was gone.
There was so much more there I could feel it. Deep memories he
wanted to stay buried. Yet why would he keep a memento like
this around if he didn't want to remember that time? "Was it
you?" I leaned backwards into him and he caught me and held me
there.
"No." There was a bit of a laugh in his voice. "We were
confederates for some time."
"So you were a knight too?" No wonder Keir was always
referring to him as Sir Bram.
"Yes, for a time." Done with that topic he reached around and
produced some strawberries. "I thought you might like these."
"Oh no. It's not that easy."
He let go of me easily and lowered the strawberries on to the
desk on his way back to the couch. "Toni, I'm not comfortable
talking about my life before becoming... what I am. Please
don't ask me anymore."
Why? I tried searching his face for an answer, none came. Had
I been more skilled I might even try pushing his mind, fishing
for another scene of that battle or something. Alas I wasn't
and he only seemed to grow angrier as we stood there. Finally I
gave in. "I'm sorry." I went to him and he accepted me into
his arms. "Remind me to thank Kama."
"For what?"
"For this." He still didn't completely understand. "For
forcing me to come see you and apologize to you."
"She say's 'you're welcome.'" I smiled and hugged him tighter.
I wandered through the hall, not really knowing where I was
going. I just let my feet lead me where they wanted to go.
This was just a weird feeling. I was elated and ecstatic. I
was still tingly all over. Every spot he had touched was still
warm. I was warm all over.
I wanted to shout to everyone I passed that I was in love! I
wanted to shout to the Gods that I, Antoniette Aloise, was the
happiest person in the world! I think that was more shocking
than anything else. I was happy, genuinely happy. I never
thought that could happen again. More so I couldn't believe I
could be happy in this place. I could see Keir right now and
still be happy. Ironically I was happy all because of a
vampire. Bram had changed my world. One minute I was suffering
from heartbreak, the next I couldn't imagine how I lived my life
without him. I had been with nearly every vampire in this place
and none of them made me feel this way. Hell, no one in my life
had ever put me in this magical place. I didn't think such a
thing was possible, that it only happened in fairy tales. Maybe
I was right and maybe this was just a dream.
No, I couldn't think that, I wanted to believe this was real no
matter what.
We had been together for some time, at least through a few
meals. I hadn't wanted to leave him, that was obvious, but he
insisted that I not neglect my chores lest I get in trouble for
disregarding them. Reluctantly I left the room. Our fingers
touched until the door separated them. A smile had spread
across my face and I began walking with a light step. I was
supposed to be going back to the slave quarters to work on some
machinery. I just didn't feel like it. I wanted to go tell
Kama, but I figured she already knew. Lacey was the next person
on the list. She wouldn't understand. She'd just say I told
you so. She'd be happy for me of course, that just wasn't what
I wanted. I wanted everyone to feel what I felt. The pure joy
that was running through me like a fresh mountain spring. Too
bad I couldn't bottle it up I could make a fortune.
My feet kept me going past the entrance to the slave quarters,
past the gym and past a hundred other doors. I passed a few
vampires along the way. Not one bothered me just gave me a
knowing smile and passed me with a greeting of some kind. Any
slave I passed had no clue, but greeted me as kindly. Maybe my
happiness was contagious after all. Or maybe it was something
more.
With all that's been happening in my mind, was it possible that
not only could I read thoughts, but project them as well. Or at
least project feelings? I wasn't ready for what this could
imply, I was happy just thinking others were happy to see me.
I wound up in the only place I could think of that would allow
me to collect my thoughts; the library. I walked like a zombie
amongst the rows of books, not really paying attention to them
or the people I passed. My mind was still in Bram's room in his
arms. I could swear I could feel his warm arms around me. I
folded my arms across my midriff imagining his arms there. A
smile spread across my face when I pictured his own smile and
his sweet, soft voice in my ear.
"So do you understand why I stay here now? Is it worth
servitude to you?" It was not a mocking tone, a fatherly one
but definitely not mocking. Nor was it Bram's voice.
"Yes." I replied without even thinking. I knew Al liked to
stay here because he was in love with one (or more) of the
vampires and I never understood why. Until now.
Then it hit me, I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I
didn't even realize whom I had been talking to. "Al?!" I
turned around to find the old goat leaning on the bookshelf with
a book under his arm. I was so excited to see him I jumped
towards him and took him in a big bear hug, very happy to see
him alive and well. For once something right was happening in
my life.
"Easy Kiddo, you might break something." He patted me on the
back and I let go of him. "It's good to see you happy."
"It's good to see you period. Where have you been?"
"Here and there." His smile didn't slip, but I could easily
tell he didn't want to talk about it. "So tell me what have you
been up to while I was away? I mean other than becoming
intimate with Bram. At least I'm assuming it's Bram."
"It is." I confirmed.
"Oh good."
It took me a second to actually think beyond the last few
hours. "I've just been going in circles. First, I think I find
out who killed Lowell, then I learn I was wrong. Nothing has
been going right for me."
"I'm sure it's not that bad."
"Oh it is." I told him everything, since I didn't have the
chance to talk to him about it since I stabbed Heremon. Wow had
it been that long? I told him how I had discovered Bram's
prints and how they matched with those on the chips, then how we
bonded and I became sure he had not killed Lowell. I mentioned
Mona and her peculiar fixation with following my case. He
seemed intrigued by her. He hadn't met her yet and I promised
to introduce them if I could get them in the same room at the
same time. Then off the subject of Lowell, I told him about
Kama and the stupid list she wanted me to make up. Al told me
he'd do what he could to help.
Despite my digging he would not tell me what had happened to
him. Either about how he became hurt or where he disappeared
off to. I was in too good of a mood to mother him about it, so
I let it go for now. We went and got a meal and talked for
hours. Most of it was comparing our opinions of the vampires
and falling in love with them. We reminisced over our lives
before coming here and how we missed our families. We discussed
our favorite movies and unsurprisingly there wasn't a vampire
movie in the bunch. Soon we forgot we were even slaves there at
all. It was good to feel free and loved at the same time. I
don't think I had ever felt that way even when I was free.
Finally I yawned for about the hundredth time and he decided it
was time for me to go to bed. I hugged him one last time before
retiring. "Don't you disappear like that again without letting
me know."
"I'll try, kiddo."
Sleep however just was not an option. Lacey hovered over me as
I lay on my cot trying to get a nap in. "So?" Her voice had a
tinge of anger to it.
"So?" I asked back not knowing what to say that wouldn't make
her more upset.
"So why didn't you show up?"
"Huh?"
She stomped her foot indignantly. "Gary's birthday party."
"Oh, sorry, I forgot. When was it again?" I had indeed
forgotten all about it.
"Three days ago."
Wow, had it really been that long ago? The thought of Kama
pulling me to his room, then one of Bram holding me in front of
the mirror crossed my mind. I smiled.
This did indeed upset her more. "You promised me you would go.
Then you disappeared for three days. Toni what have you been
doing for three days?"
I smiled again as the thoughts of what I was doing for those
three days crossed my mind. "I was doing my duty."
Exasperated she asked. "What duty?"
I loved playing with her this way. "What do you think?"
"You couldn't have been feeding them for three days non stop."
"Who said anything about feeding anyone?" She looked at me
shocked.
"How many can you sleep with in three days?"
Ah, now she was catching on. "Just one."
I think this helped her put two and two together with the smile
that was plastered on my face. "Bram?"
"That wasn't that hard was it?" I thought about throwing out a
blonde joke, but was afraid it might take too long for her to
figure it out.
"Oh my God!" She squealed in joy. "You and Bram? Oh my God!"
She was so excited she had to sit down and leaned in close to
me. "Three days with him? Tell me all about it." I shook my
head. "Oh please. Please, please, pleeeeeeaaase."
This was too easy. I yawned, realizing I hadn't had a decent
night's sleep in days. "Tomorrow. I've got to get some sleep."
"Toni." She whined. I feigned sleep, she tried several more
times to gain my attention, but before long I really had fallen
asleep.
The next day I was obligated to at least tell her a little of
what had happened. I didn't give her the detailed description
she wanted but she seemed satisfied just to know I was with him
at all. I did attend my jobs that day fixing what I could and
in the evening, as much as I would have liked to seek out Bram I
was pulled into Harlow's room. For two more nights I was kept
from Bram by others and on the third I snuck out of the slave
court before anyone could find me and made it to his room. He
was packing. With sorrowful eyes he apologized to me. "I'll be
gone a couple of days." He took me in his arms when my eyes
started to well up. "Don't worry." He lifted my head so I'd
look into his soft eyes, "I've scheduled to have you here the
entire week after I get back." I smiled delighted he would do
this for me. I was looking forward to spending a whole week
with him. A whole week without another vampire! It was like a
vacation. I hugged him tighter. "Now you're going to behave
while I'm gone aren't you."
"Me, not behave? I'm shocked that you would think such a
thing!" I gave him a knowing smile. "I'm always a good girl."
"Right, and I'm the Queen of England."
"Well, Your Majesty, I promise when you return you'll hear
nothing but favorable things about me."
He lifted his head smugly and adopted a feminine voice. "We
shall be very pleased if thou doest half as well as thou
promised."
We laughed and I sat with him as he finished packing his
suitcase. Before I knew it he was ready to leave. I wasn't
ready to let him go. Eventually he had to pry my arms away from
him and I watched gloomily as he lugged his bag over his
shoulder and left down the hall. He looked back every few
seconds until he was completely out of sight.
Now what was I going to do? I didn't want to spend that night
with another vampire. I'd probably go and lose myself in my
journal or something. At least I had something to look forward
to. Scheduled for a whole week! I probably wouldn't get much
writing done. After all my mind wouldn't let me think about
anything else at the moment. It started to bug me that this was
all that was on my mind, like it was important somehow. I
didn't mind though, I liked having Bram on the brain.
Scheduled? It hit me. There was something about the schedule
I was supposed to remember. Damn it, what was it? I searched
my memory long and hard. It's like the thing had been wiped of
all memories before my night with Bram. What was I doing? I
was investigating Lowell's death, that's for sure, but what
exactly? Why was I interested in the schedule? It bugged me
for hours, until I made the connection seeing Virginia walk into
the showers.
Of course! Virginia was in charge of the schedules and I
wanted to speak to her to see if there was anyone with
investigative skills in the complex. She had been incapacitated
before. Now she looked healthy and would no doubt be able to
tell me something. I was determined to stake out the door to
the showers until she was finished. A half hour later she came
out dressed in a fashion like a librarian and a crisp tight bun
on her head. She looked up at me blocking her way. "Excuse me
please Antoniette."
"I need to speak with you." I said in what I hoped was a non
threatening tone. "Somewhere a little more private."
She moved off with me into a corner. "What is it?" If she was
suspicious of me she didn't show it. In fact she was rather
pleasant.
"I need you to tell me of any slave here who might be able to
help me in my search for Lowell's murderer."
"Oh is that all?" She seemed relieved. "I thought you were
upset over that little white lie I let slip about you."
"What lie?"
"You haven't heard about it?"
"No."
She shuffled her feet a little. "It's a silly thing really,
not important at all."
"Then why would I be mad about it?"
"Well, it's just that I heard something and had misinterpreted
it and ..."
"Virginia." I urged her to get on with it. If she didn't I
would definitely be indignant.
"I had told a couple people that Bram made you a vampire." She
flinched as if I would strike.
"That's it?"
"It's not true is it?" She was shocked I wasn't upset, she
must have thought this was because it was true.
I laughed a little. "Of course not. Bram and I spent several
days together but he did not make me one of them."
"Oh good." She didn't seem that relieved. "I assure you I
only told a couple people before I was corrected."
"That's fine." I assured her. "Now back to what I asked you
about..."
"Yes, of course. Let's see there was Jorge who used to
investigate auto insurance claims. Oh and then there was that
poor man a few years ago who tried to find out what was really
in the jackalope stew. He came so close to finding out too."
Jackalope... no no, I wouldn't ask.
"That's not quite what I meant."
"Don't you wish to know what happened to him?"
"Not particularly." I had to many things to worry about at the
moment to get involved in that one. "I need someone of
authority, like a cop or a military man."
"Oh dear, I'm afraid there's no one like that here."
"No one?"
"Heaven's no. Could you imagine them letting a policeman in
here? That would be akin to allowing a vampire hunter in. Oh
no. They wouldn't take a chance like that." She thought for a
moment and I thought she might be onto something. "There was
that one time that a deputy from the town stumbled his way
inside. He didn't last too long that poor man.
"In fact I'm surprised they let you in." She declared out of
the blue.
"Why's that?"
"Well, everyone knows you've resisted them since you've
arrived. You're not exactly the typical servant are you?"
"Apparently not." I had to agree with her there.
Finished with that topic she started to tell me some gossip
about some other person who had been unsuccessful in resisting
the vampires. While I would have loved to stay and reminisce
over old times, I really couldn't stand the fact that I had hit
another brick wall. I thanked her and was on my way. Looks
like I'd have no choice but keep out of trouble as I promised.
After all there were no more clues. Nothing else could help me
in this search for a killer.
I finally had a few moments to myself. No work, no vampires.
For once the privacy wasn't really welcome. I'd rather be
spending this time with Bram. Alas he had business elsewhere.
At least he wasn't the only thing on my mind at the moment. So
I took this time to write in my journal which I had neglected
since Lowell's death. As I sat writing taking account of all my
actions in the investigation I started to realize something was
missing. Bram, now I was sure, had not committed this heinous
murder. I knew in my soul he didn't even drain Lowell that
night as he had admitted to me once. The prints were not his.
He had told me he would have given me his prints had I only
asked for them. In fact he went through the same process Keir
had and gave me a full set of prints. He even went with me when
I scanned them and learned that his prints were in fact not
those I found on the book. He didn't even know anything about
the book, hadn't even realized it was in his room that night.
We both realized it was planted, but by whom?
He did not know, or rather would not say. As our mental
connection was there, it was not strong enough for me to gleam
the information for myself. He told me, as others had, to
forget about it. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't. I had
started this and despite all of the distractions I was going to
finish it. So I was back to square one and left with only one
suspect. Miss. Kama. I still had no motive and no reason to
believe she was anything but framed. Knowing this, I scanned
her prints in against the book. While I had thought I had
matched her prints from the whip to those on the chips, I had
apparently been wrong. The computer matched several points, but
not enough to make a definite identification. I scanned Keir's,
Gary's and even the few I had gleamed from Lacey. Not one
matched positively. So basically I had no suspects. Bram
couldn't offer me an explanation. There was only one I could
think of; the records had been tampered with. Again I had no
proof of this and I quickly found my only evidence was useless.
Bram had tried to console me but he only managed to distract me.
Now days later it haunted me.
There had been many things going on during this investigation
and I strained my mind to list them all; Heremon's spar with
Bram and me, and subsequent humiliation, the mysterious note
warning me off the case, everyone and their brother warning me
off the case, the new kid on the block Mona showing up, my near
drowning in the pool right before that and ... Erik's handing
me a mysterious box. A box that he asked me to put in my locker
and forget about. I had until now, what with all that was going
on. Perhaps he didn't really want me to forget about it. Since
he was a practical joker, he may have been counting on my
curiosity to get the better of me. Most likely it was booby
trapped. Yet there was the possibility, no matter how slight,
that it contained a piece of this puzzle. He had come with it
at a crucial point in my investigation. He had known things
about Bram and Lowell. What if he was trying to tell me
something with this without really telling me in case someone
was reading our minds? I had to take the chance and see what
was in that box.
I set out on my mission, my journal forgotten again and headed
straight for my locker. I pushed aside papers and underwear and
found buried at the bottom; the box. I was just putting my
hands around it when a voice stopped me. "How are you doing
Toni?"
"What? Nothing." I spun around shutting the locker and faced
Gary. By the look on his face I knew I had heard him wrong.
"Fine, I'm doing fine."
"Then why are you nervous?"
By then I had composed myself. "Because you startled me."
"I thought it might be because you thought I was a vampire come
to kill you."
"That's ridiculous."
"Have you found Lowell's murderer yet?" Surprisingly his tone
wasn't condescending.
"No, I'm still looking."
"Could be you're closer to the answer than you think."
"What's that supposed to mean Gary?"
"Well, I heard you were sleeping with the enemy now." Word
does get around fast.
"I'll have you know that Bram is completely innocent."
"Hmm." He pretended to think this over.
"Did you come all the way here to tell me this?"
He smiled impishly. "Actually I came in here to change. Have
a nice day Toni." He moved off but as luck would have it his
locker was not too far from my own. I could just take the box
out and open it somewhere else. If he saw me leaving with it I
knew he'd be suspicious, especially since he had interrupted
Erik and I when Erik gave it to me. I could wait around until
he was gone, but he was taking his sweet time and who knows when
he would leave. So I would have to come back to the mystery of
the box.
I went back to my journal. I really didn't get that far before
Mona showed up and started droning on about the problem of the
week. Even though I was looking right at her, I was pretty much
ignoring her. Her mouth moved and made noises but they didn't
make any sense to me. That is until she said, "Why did you
change your mind about Bram?"
So Mona knew, I guess that is everyone. Sounds like she's
still interested in the case as well. "Because..." I didn't
know how to explain it to her. I read his mind wasn't an option
considering she wasn't supposed to know anything about the
vampires. "Because I found he had an alibi." I lied.
"Really? What was it?"
Thinking quickly I conjured up something that wasn't completely
implausible. "He was with a woman that night."
"Oh." She wasn't disappointed. In fact she was excited. "So
what do we do next?"
"We?" Since when was this a team effort?
"Sure, I told you Bram was innocent." That she did. She also
more or less told me that Bram had told her Kama was the guilty
party. Despite the fact that I couldn't believe that, there was
nothing that indicated this was true when I was inside of Bram's
head. Certainly, if it was true it would be evidence of his
innocence and thus be at the forefront of his thoughts.
Wouldn't it? Therefore, I concluded that Bram didn't know who
the murderer was which exonerated Kama.
Back to her question; which, I guess, would mean I was now
including her in this investigation for all the help it would do
me, I scanned my journal looking back over the last month or so.
I showed her my notes, making sure there was no mention of
vampires or biting before I let her see the last page only which
was just a list of clues that ended in obscurity. At least
that's what I thought until she asked, "Who's Darika?"
What an excellent question! One I had yet to find an answer
to. Who was Darika and where did she fit into this mess? "I
don't know." Damn, I realized I had missed my chance to ask
Bram about Darika. If my memory wasn't failing me, he seemed to
know her or at least the name. Perhaps she used to be a slave
here years ago. I could ask Al about her, or maybe Virginia but
neither seemed to be around.
"I can help ask around." I know she wasn't reading my mind,
but it was spooky she'd ask nonetheless.
I shook my head. "I wouldn't if I were you. Most people
around here don't like people asking questions. I've had plenty
of experience there."
"I can be discreet." She seemed up to the task, but I wondered
just how discreet she could be. Discreet enough not to gain the
vampires' attention? Maybe because she hasn't been introduced
to them yet she would be out of danger from their wrath. It
would be worth a try and at least it wouldn't be me. People
might be more receptive to her.
Finally after convincing myself, I nodded. "Okay, but be
careful. Please. If somebody starts to get angry at you, just
walk away." A little confused at the instructions, after all
who would get angry at her, she agreed. "Okay, I have to go do
something. Let's talk tomorrow." Again she agreed and rushed
off. I had a feeling she already had someone in mind to
question. Meanwhile I was off to go check the computers for the
name. I knew I wouldn't be able to explain the existence of The
Master of all Things' room without touching on the subject of
vampires so I didn't tell her where I was going.
The door was locked again and so I used the key. It let me in
with no hassles and once again I found the room empty. It was
odd. The Master of all Things wasn't always around before. Of
course he used to be around more often than he had been of late.
Perhaps he was assigned to the same trip as Bram. It seemed
logical but it didn't feel right. He was a hermit and didn't
like people much. He barely tolerated me when I came to visit.
So the only way he'd go on one of those trips is if he were
forced, which wasn't inconceivable.
I stared at the room. I had expected there to be no change in
it since I was here last. Apparently I was wrong. Nothing
seemed to be out of place from last time. It just felt wrong.
The reason it felt wrong soon emerged. The vampires had known
someone was messing with the computers recently. When I turned
on the first computer and it booted the first thing I saw was a
login prompt. This had not been there the last couple times I
had used the computers. So a little bit of security had been
added to their network. I sighed. I had not been anticipating
this. Now I'd have to guess The Master of all Things' password
as well. So I pulled up a chair and prepared myself for at
least an hour of guess work. I thought about getting around the
password some other way, which would include the possibility of
wiping the hard drive, which I didn't want to do if I didn't
want to lose any of the information that could be on it. The
bottom line was, I wasn't a hacker and couldn't really get
around the login, so I'd just have to try until I got it right.
For the login name itself I figured simple was probably best
and I went with his full name. Twenty minutes later I began
questioning if I was right about that since none of the
passwords I had guessed were right. I even tried a couple of
the other machines only to find the same problem on them. I was
fairly frustrated and pounded another word that was more than
likely not a password, but expressed my anger clearly.
Unsurprisingly it didn't work.
A knock on the door startled me and I tried blocking the view
of the screen as I turned to see who it was. Kama was in the
doorway. She didn't seem upset that I was here. "Hello, I've
been looking for you."
"Really?" I tried not to sound guilty after all I didn't think
I was supposed to be here, and more so I had no idea what she
wanted me for. I was fairly certain I wasn't scheduled to be
with her, I hope she didn't think I was avoiding her.
"I wanted to talk to you about Bram."
No doubt she could see my relief at that.
"I'm glad you finally forgave him, and yourself. I just hope
you didn't feel forced into taking the step you did with him."
Wouldn't she have known if I had?
"No. Of course I didn't."
"Excellent. I'm happy for you."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." She was vibrant today, very happy and I had
to admit beautiful. She definitely had an aura around her that
radiated and sucked you in. Thus I wasn't too put off when she
said. "You seem to have a problem here."
"No, really I'm fine. It's just I..."
"Toni, please don't try to lie to me." Her smile never left
her face. I was in fact going to tell her I had forgotten my
password. Of course we both knew it was a lie and I would have
just looked worst had I actually said it. Kama walked over to
one of the computers and simply typed in a name and password so
quickly that I didn't catch what she typed. "You are thinking
too hard again, Toni. What did Wen tell you when he handed you
the key to this room?"
I was surprised she knew about that. Even after being here for
nearly two years, I was still surprised at how omnipotent they
are. I shook my head. Even I didn't remember something that
happened so long ago.
"He said it was yours."
At the time I thought he meant the key, but her expression told
me otherwise. "The room?"
"Yes, therefore would his passwords be on these computers?"
They would unless someone changed them. She motioned me
towards a computer. After letting what she said compute in my
mind, I chose one of my more commonly used passwords. What do
you know, it worked. "How? Why?"
"Wen."
"He changed the passwords? Why?"
She smiled and was enjoying this little game. "He no longer
needs them. These passwords are put in place to keep our
servants from gleaning information either harmful to them or us.
Vampires obviously can bypass any password."
Vampires can... "Wen's a vampire?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Yes."
Argh. "Not Wen. When did it happen?"
"Oh." She smiled coyly. Of course she knew what I had meant.
"Do you remember when you were trying to match Lacey's prints
and I walked in?" I thought back, I really had been pretty
stupid to think that no one knew what I was doing. However, I
couldn't forget that night, not because of that, but because
that's when they brought in the jukebox and I danced with Bram.
"Didn't you find it strange that he wasn't there, that
everything was in the state it was?" She didn't let me answer.
After all she knew that I hadn't. "He was taken so quickly that
he didn't have time to shut everything down. Really I'm shocked
you hadn't already come to this conclusion after finding your
files on the computers." Me too, but I had other things on my
mind.
"Why me?" I asked Kama after she had finished. "There are
other engineers here smarter than me."
"Engineers yes, but you're not only an engineer. You're so
much more dear."
"What do you mean?"
"All I can say is we see potential in you." That made my blood
run cold. I was silent for just a few minutes as I stared at
the computer trying to gain my composure. Finally she spoke as
she accessed the computer next to me. "Now, what were you
looking for? Perhaps I can help find it a little quicker."
I watched her punch in commands with ease sliding the mouse as
if it were second nature to her. It was amazing what vampires
could do when they put their minds to it, or rather to others to
gain information on how to work technology. "I'm looking for a
person." I said somewhat mesmerized by her skill. "She might
have been a slave here before. Her name's Darika."
Kama's hands stopped. They just hovered there over the
keyboard. Then slowly she turned away and looked at me. I
watched her expression change from somewhat shocked to light
hearted. "Oh you don't need a computer for that child. I can
tell you there's never been a servant here by that name."
"Are you sure? I mean could that be an alias or something."
She looked down at me. "Don't you think we'd know if someone
wasn't using their real name?"
"Yes, of course. Thank you for your help Mistress."
"Don't stress over this too much darling." She patted my knee
as she stood. "Why don't you come see me tonight and we can
talk about this if you like."
"All right." I had to admit it was better than getting the
same offer from any other vampire.
After Kama left, I checked the computers. I was there anyway
so I might as well. Of course I came up empty. It was also
just now sinking in that this was my room. I now had a new
place all to myself. At least I wouldn't have to sit in that
musty, old closet anymore.
Later, I went to get another nap in far happier than I awoke
that morning. I may not be any closer to bringing a murderer to
justice, but other things were going my way. Before I could
fall asleep however something was nagging me. I looked to my
neighbor and saw she wasn't quite asleep yet.
"Lacey? Do you know of anyone named Darika?"
Lacey shook her head. Strange, I would think she would know
just about everything that Miss Kama is involved with, and I was
sure Miss Kama was somehow connected to this mysterious woman.
She did not deny knowing her, even if she denied that Darika
ever lived here. In addition, Kama's reaction when I asked
about the woman made me quite aware that she knew Darika, but
how? I didn't voice my concern yet after all I didn't have
anything to be concerned about. Did I? I fell asleep without
any more answers.
I didn't sleep. I just laid there for an hour until my shift
was due in the kitchen. It was just a short one dishing out
side dishes for the dinner crowd. Afterwards, I meet my pool
buddies in the recreation area. A few of us slaves got together
at least once every couple weeks to play pool. I was hardly as
good as the others but with their help I was improving. I still
couldn't call the hole I was about to shoot the ball into, but I
could at least guess the direction it would go in. The boys
always gave me a hard time about my poor style but it was all in
good fun. The rock music played loudly on the jukebox and we'd
take an hour to just pretend we weren't where we were. No one
tended to bother us. No one even complained about the music.
Brian and I were in the middle of a game with Mark waiting to
play the winner. It was obvious it wouldn't be me as I had six
balls left on the table and Brian only had two. I was trying
not to pout. When Mark made a comment that broke it into a
smile. "Don't let Kama see you like that. You know what she
would do." I had just gotten done telling them about how easily
she handled computers. They had come to the same conclusion I
had. She obviously got the knowledge of how to use computers
out of somebody's head.
Brian looked on confused. "Come on Brian. It's not like you
haven't been with her." I said.
He looked to Mark, was that shame. "She drank from me a couple
times, but... I don't think she liked the way I taste."
Mark laughed heartily. "Don't lie. You know she doesn't think
you're any good in bed."
I laughed as well when Brian turned red. "Don't feel bad
Brian. Most of the time I spend with her, we just talk." Yet
something was wrong; something about Brian. "How long ago was
this?" I asked thinking she probably just hasn't given him a
chance recently.
He shrugged. "I don't know, three years?" He looked to Mark
for help who nodded.
Three years was a while ago, before I came. I wondered what
Kama's criteria was- He hadn't been with her since before I
came? That means before Lowell's death! "Are you sure?"
He shrugged. "Yeah."
"But Lacey said..." I couldn't believe it! She lied to me.
"Do you remember when Lowell died?"
"Lowell?" Mark seemed to not even remember him.
Brian did. "The guy with the funny hair?" Well, I never
thought of him that way, but yes, I nodded. "What about him?"
"Not him," I pointed the cue at him. "Lacey and Kama. Damn!"
He shared a confused look with Mark. Why hadn't I remembered
before? Lacey had first told me that she hadn't noticed anyone
come in and touch my equipment but she was distracted because
she was talking to Brian! Then, she told me later that Kama
couldn't have done it because she was with Brian at the time.
He couldn't have been in two places at once! "You don't
remember where you were do you?"
He laughed. "Probably clogging. You know how the vampires
love to dance."
I would have laughed, but I was too intense on my train of
thought. "Were you talking to Lacey?"
"Could have been. I talk to her a lot."
Mark chimed in. "Wait, wasn't that when she shot you down?"
Brian got a devilish spark in his eye. "Yeah. I remember that
now. She looked lonely after you had left so I thought I'd keep
her company. Of course I didn't think it would hurt to try a
couple moves on her too. She slapped me." Mark laughed he knew
how successful Brian was with women. "Funny that you mentioned
Kama, she was there too."
My ears peaked at this. Lacey didn't tell me this. "She was
only there for a couple minutes, but she was giving me the eye,
like she thought I was doing something wrong. Or maybe she was
just jealous."
"Jealous of your effective courting technique?" Mark quipped.
"Like you can do any better." Brian snapped back.
"Guys please. Did she touch anything while she was there?" I
asked eagerly.
He shrugged again. "Might have, there were a bunch of gizmos
around. I didn't pay much attention."
"I love you!" I grabbed his shoulders and kissed his cheek.
"I owe you one."
"Hey don't leave so soon. You can pay off now by loosing this
game!" It was too late I was gone. He had solved my mystery at
last!
I returned to the computer room. I examined the prints over
and over. Something was wrong. I started comparing the prints
from the book I took from Bram's room and found, not so
amazingly now, that they were similar (but not exactly) to those
taken from Kama's whip. Had I been so stupid to believe such
small prints could have belonged to Bram's muscular hand?
I had to think and this cluttered room seemed as messy as my
mind, with so many things whirling around in it. I picked up a
drive and put it with a couple others. I slid a monitor back
onto its rightful pedestal. Slowly I began inching through the
mess clearing it away as I thought.
I started to put it all together. Her ease of use of the
computer should have told me something. She could have
manipulated it to not match her prints to those on the book.
The first prints I found on the ICs were not planted, but the
book in Bram's room was. Having Lacey in her room when I
confronted her was obviously set up. The thing with Brian just
made everything fit together. Even the letter I was to deliver
to Bram now seemed suspicious. I figured the last was a message
to him that she could not convey telepathically for fear of
others learning the truth. She was trying to tell him
something. Now I wanted that letter. If only I had seen
through it all a long ago, I could have opened that letter after
she had given it to me and solved the whole thing. I rushed
back to Bram's room hoping beyond hope, he still had it.
Not only did he have it, but it was placed on the table waiting
for me, my name written across the front. How could he have
known I'd come looking for it? The original envelope I
delivered was inside. I stared at the contents. I couldn't
believe it. Had I known... Well, I wouldn't have been upset
with Bram, that's for sure.
Here is what it said; "Bram, there is a book in your room,
1984. Remove it before it is found by someone else."
But I had already found it weeks before she had me deliver
this. Why would she wait so long? Unless she hadn't known that
I had already found it. Could it be that I had managed to do
something without any vampire reading my thoughts? No, not any
vampire, Bram knew. He had to, otherwise he would not have
laughed when I handed him the letter. He already knew it was
too late. Bram had lied to me. He told me later he hadn't
known about the book, nor who planted it. Why was he protecting
her?
Now there was no denying it. The book, the letter, the
fingerprints, the witness, I couldn't have it wrong this time.
"You did it." I said calmly. I wasn't at all upset with her
it was just a fact. "You did it all. You bit him. You drained
him. Then you sabotaged the life support system to make sure he
died."
"You're a fool." I had to hold myself back. I knew she was
goading me, no doubt she wanted me to explode at her so she
could punish me and put me in the same position she had the last
time I accused her. It wasn't going to happen, not today.
Quickly figuring it out she continued. "You're a fool, but a
smart fool. That's why I adore you so." Okay, don't act
confused, just keep a steady gaze on her and let her finish.
"You're right all of it is correct. Though I must say I'm a
little disappointed it took you this long to figure it out."
"Why Kama?" A motive was the only thing I did not have.
"Mistress." She snapped correcting me. There were certain
lines she wouldn't allow me to cross.
"Mistress, why did you kill him? You lead me to believe Keir
and Gary did it."
Kama was very calm and patient with me now that I wasn't
defying her anymore. "Gary couldn't kill Lowell they were best
friends." I knew that fact and that was why I had not believed
it when Kama told me but it still didn't explain why she would
try to distract me by doing that.
"There are forces going on here that you can not understand.
Just suffice it to say that I took advantage of an opportunity."
"So why did you get Bram involved?"
She smiled. "You know I could never do anything to hurt that
dear boy. I knew what Gary and Keir had made you believe about
him. I had to counteract that, for the sake of your
relationship with him."
"So, why did you have him lie for you?"
"A better question; why would Bram risk your love to lie for
me?"
It was a good question but I knew the answer just as I had
known he had lied. "He is a loyal friend to you for reasons I
don't understand. That still doesn't answer my question."
"I think if you put a little thought into it, it would."
Putting it together I finished. "So to protect Bram from my
suspicion you told me that Keir did it?"
She nodded sideways, an ambiguous affirmative. "That is one of
the reasons, yes."
"What I don't understand is if you were trying to frame Keir,
why did you place the book with your prints on it in Bram's
room?"
"I tried to frame Keir with it. He caught on and put the book
into Bram's room without me knowing." Should I believe her?
Why should I? She had lied to me before. Had she really not
known? That might explain why her letter to Bram came so late,
as well as why it was written and not telepathically transmitted.
There was a catch though. "Keir's prints were not on the
book." I said solemnly.
"Perhaps he wore gloves. Does it really matter?"
"Yes, it does."
"Why?" What a simple question. One I couldn't easily answer...
Why did any of this matter? After all this time why was I
still seeking justice for a man I didn't even know? Hell, why
was I defending Keir, a man I didn't even like? Was it all for
Justice's sake? Was it to help me make myself feel better
because someone died while on equipment I had believed I had
fixed? Maybe it's just some vampire controlling my mind telling
me to pursue it. Okay, while that was possible I don't really
think it is feasible.
I think more than anything I needed to know that I hadn't been
wrong. I needed confirmation that Keir was the bad guy and Kama
was the good guy. Standing here now, looking at her and knowing
what I know, I began to wonder if I had mistaken Keir's actions.
Were his motives really good though the means he took were not
so?
Perhaps it was the same for her. Perhaps her motives were
pure. Was Lowell really the real bad guy here? Despite all the
free information she was giving me she still hadn't answered my
question; "But why did you kill him?" I just had to be
persistent about these things didn't I? "Was it because of this
Darika person?"
"It is not for you to know." She snapped she had had enough of
me.
"I need to know. By now you should know that." I pleaded yet
I couldn't keep the anger out of my voice.
"You are pushing too far. This investigation is over."
I clenched my teeth. I wanted to argue with her, however I
knew it was of no use. So I did the only thing I could; I
stormed for the door. I expected to be stopped. She surprised
me by letting me go.
It was over and looking at the scoreboard it was unclear if I
had won or lost.
