Leaving the Light By: Christine Schnell

Chapter 30



	Three months flew by as I was in a blissful state.  I hadn't
even noticed that my servitude with Kama would have been more
than half over.  I didn't listen to Heremon's cackling comments.
 Even Keir's rough hands seemed delicate.  Nothing fazed me.  My
focus was on Bram and the time we shared together.  

	We were now very open about our relationship.  There was no
reason to hide it, all the vampires could read our minds, and
the slaves (the ones who cared) were happy for us.  The happiest
of all I think was Dr. Wendel.  I did not grace one of his beds
with my presence in all those passing months.  I was happier
than I ever had been, or ever thought I could be in this place.

	I was relaxing playing a game of cards with a few of the slaves
when Bram walked in or should I say strutted.  He was confident,
manly and positively gorgeous.  I laughed silently.  I enjoyed
watching his muscles play under his tight shirt.  I had to
distract myself from him by looking at my cards.  Too late, by
then the thoughts of his bare bulging pectorals had already
entered my mind.  I started to giggle like a school girl.
Everyone at the table turned to look and see what I had been
mesmerized by.  That's when Bram reached us, put a big powerful
hand on the table and leaned in towards me.  "I'd walk a million
miles for one of your smiles, and even farther for that thing
you do with your tongue."  The guys at the table smiled
knowingly and a couple of the girls giggled.  God this was
embarrassing.  

	Of course a come back was easy to come by.  I just had to
compose myself before I could say it.  "Then go take a hike."

	"Ouch."  Bram feigned a stabbed heart.

	I didn't really want him to leave.  Hell I had been hoping to
see him for some time.  It had only been three days since we had
seen each other but I had more separation anxiety for the last
two days than I had the first time he left for a week.  Even
these brief encounters we had in the slave court weren't enough
to satisfy me.  Only if we spent hours upon hours in each
other's presence would I be satiated for another 24 hours and
all we'd have to do is talk.

	"Seriously I'd like to talk privately with you.  Are you busy?"

	"Not at all.  Guess I'm out of this hand guys."  I dropped the
cards and took Bram's arm.

	There were oohs and whispers from the table.  

	"You'll all get a turn."  He called jovially over his shoulder.

	Although we were very much in love, we have no need to
consummate that love all of the time.  Therefore, we often found
ourselves sitting in each other's company.  Of course what was
really drawing us closer were our efforts to strengthen our
mental link.  In those few months we had gotten to the point
that I could read his surface thoughts.  That is of course when
he lets me.  There are times I question my ability and believe
that he is probing my mind, not the other way around.  He
assured me he wasn't.

	The thoughts that were up front were always about me.  I knew
it was not all that he thought of.  I just happened to be on his
mind while he was working with me.  I couldn't go any further
than those thoughts.  That is why I had doubts.   

	In this particular case he was thinking of more than just
joining our minds.  In his mind he was looking deeply into my
eyes, then my mouth, now he ran his fingers through my hair and
sniffed it.  In his mind's eye he was moving in to embrace me.

	I felt his warm fingers crawling around my side to my back.  I
reached down and found his arms were not there.  It was a little
more real than I expected.  Looking for the arms that were not
there was a detriment to our connection as I was no longer
thinking about him.  My surroundings had become real again and
it would take me five to ten minutes to make them disappear.

	I closed my eyes, relaxed and pictured him with his arms around
me again.  This I knew was my own imagination and not his.  The
point at which it transitioned to his was indecipherable.  I
knew he was there with me one way or the other.  So I asked; "Is
this your fantasy or mine?"

	"Both."  He whispered as he leaned in to kiss me.  It was real
and it wasn't.  It's like a dream that you thought was real life
until you wake up.

	As in dreams, strange things also occurred.  After all, we are
dealing with the human... er vampire mind.  

	A clanging of metal was off in the distance.  At first I
thought it might be a dull bell until I realized I had heard the
sound before and it wasn't bells.  Not that the source I
recognized it from was reliable; movie sound effects rarely
were.  I had no other explanation for it.  It sounded like
someone moving quickly in armor.  

	It was creshendoing.  They were coming closer.  The nearer they
came the more in focus they became.  As they did so, I realized
Bram was no longer there.  At first, by the sound of it, I
thought there were many soldiers.  As the fog of the dream
lifted, I realized there was only one.

	Before I could react he was upon me swinging his sword
dangerously close to my head.  Gathering my wits I moved to
block the blow and heard rather than felt metal grinding against
metal.  I saw my arm in front of my face was shimmering with a
hard steel skeleton.  I was becoming aware of the heaviness of
it and that of the sword I found in my right hand.

	I moved as if stuck in molasses and the man in armor who was
now attacking me was in slippery grease.  I lifted my left arm
slowly, as my right was too weighed down to lift any faster.  I
caught his sword hand just as it was coming down on me.  He
grabbed my right arm before it could move.

	It was like a dance without the gracefulness. He'd move a step
forward I'd stumble backwards.  Luckily, I held my grip.  He
twisted to the side and I slid along with him.  I managed to
raise my sword above his head.  So now both swords were waving
above us like branches in the wind.

	Abruptly he yanked backwards and freed his sword hand.  Jolted
by this sudden change and strangely unafraid for my life, I
twisted my right arm and bent his thumb backwards. He was
surprised at this move and loosened his grip on me.  I dropped
my sword arm as hard as I could and the sword came along for the
ride.  The momentum sent the sharp edge slicing through the
chain mail on his vulnerable neck.  Blood erupted from the man's
arteries as he crumpled to the ground.

	The scene was surreal.  There was no blood on me, no smell of
blood.  Yet he was crumpled to the ground dead.

	I looked at the blood dripping from the sword.  I dropped it. 
The clanging sound as it hit the ground made me realize how
alone I was.  I looked around for Bram.  Surely he could explain
what my brain refused to.

	Slowly I came to realize that the heaviness I felt on my
shoulders wasn't the armor but Bram's hands.  I looked up to him
begging, "What does it all mean?"

	"It means it's definitely my fantasy."  He kissed me.  The
knight, the armor, the whole world disappeared.

	I opened my eyes and I found I was indeed wrapped in his arms
in his room.  I was in my clothes and there was no dead body to
be found.  Realizing the danger was gone I said, "So you get off
on women in armor slicing up people?"

	"Doesn't everyone?"  He kissed me again and I forgot about the
whole thing.

	Of course if this were a fairy tale I'd stop it here and say we
lived happily ever after.  As you probably know by now I'm a
realist.   In reality happiness doesn't last forever either did
this.  It had to happen one day.  I was just hoping that day
would wait a little while longer.  

	There was a knock on the door bringing us back into the real
world.  Neither of us were expecting it as I could tell from
Bram's jump. "You better answer it."  Bram let go of me.  "It's
for you."

	I didn't want to.  By the tone of his voice I knew it was
something that would pull me away from him.  I knew I was free
for the night so it couldn't be anyone who wished to feed from
me.  After trudging across the room I opened the door and was
shocked to find Dr. Wendel on the other side.

	"Antoniette, I figured you'd be here."  He stepped inside.  "I
require your assistance."

	"Mine?"  He had never needed my assistance before, except
fixing some of his equipment.  I looked from him to Bram.  Both
wore unwavering expressions.

	"Yes."  He looked to Bram for approval.  With a nod it was
given. "It is time that Mona Towle learn the truth.  It has been
decided that you should be the one to tell her."

	"Me?"

	"It's fairly well known that she admires you." He faltered for
a moment under my glare. "It would be much better for her if the
knowledge came from you."

	I had to hold myself back from asking him; why then was he the
one to give me the news.  Instead I said, "I don't think I can."

	"Toni."  Bram interrupted before Dr. Wendel could say a word. 
"This girl is fragile and you have experience she could learn
from."

	He didn't help.  It only served to remind me that Mona was
willing to believe him when I was not.  I resented the fact that
she had seen through all of them, even Kama, and I did not. 
Hell, she probably already knew the truth so what was the use?

	The doctor noted my hesitation.  "Do you remember when I first
told you about them?"  Of course I did and he didn't wait for me
to answer. "You were more upset at the fact that you loved a
vampire then your loss of freedom."

	"Yeah, so?"

	"She's digging herself the same hole."  Bram said softly.

	I suddenly remembered Mona speaking about liking one of them. 
"Sinclair?"

	Dr. Wendel nodded.  "She must know the truth about him before
it's too late."

	"What do you mean too late?"

	"He means that Sinclair may try to take advantage of her
innocence."

	"Bram, what is he going to do to her?"  For some reason I
actually felt protective of her.  Maybe it was my own bad
experience with Sinclair.  Maybe I just felt protective of my
fellow slave.  Maybe I had actually grown to like Mona.  No
matter the reason I realized they were right.  It was time she
knew what she was getting herself into.  "Okay.  Do you know
where she is?"

	Dr. Wendel answered, "I left her in the infirmary."

	"Is she hurt?"  I moved for the door and the Doc was right
behind me.

	"Well, not exactly..."  He followed me and had to jog to catch
me by the arm.  "One thing, first."

	I stopped for him as he dug in his pocket.  "Here, just in case
she needs something to calm her down, or maybe you can use them."

	He handed me a small prescription bottle and I read the label:
Diazepam (a tranquilizer).  "Very funny Doc."  I kept the bottle
even though I knew I wouldn't need them.

	

	I made my way through the halls and around the edge of the
court to avoid any curious glances.  I entered the infirmary. 
There were only a few people there, two lying on the bed and two
more walking about.  None of which were Mona.  I went into Dr.
Wendel's office and did not find her there.  I turned and found
Al standing in the doorway.  "Have you seen Mona?"  I asked as I
glanced around.  Perhaps I had over looked her.

	"No.  She's not in trouble is she?"

	I shook my head and tried to think where she could be.  "Dr.
Wendel said she'd be here and that I needed to talk with her."

	He pondered this.  "Are you sure she's okay."

	"I think so..."  Dr. Wendel hadn't really assured me she was. 
"I just need to tell her..."

	"Hmm?"

	"Al!  Can you do it for me?"

	"Do what Kiddo?"

	"Tell Mona about the vampires."

	"Oh... I don't think so."

	I motioned for him to walk alongside me as I searched.  "You
are better than me at this kind of stuff.  Plus you have more
experience then me."

	He walked slowly and I wasn't about to drag him along. 
"Perhaps.  However you know very well if you've been assigned-"

	"What would they do?  Really, I haven't been directly punished
for not doing something I was told to.  These vampires have us
under their thumbs with threats."

	"Maybe it's because those of us who've been around a while know
that not all of their threats are empty."  

	"Yeah some of them mistreat us.  Not because of not doing
something we were told."  He stopped and I became somewhat
annoyed with him.  I then realized maybe he had stopped because
he was hurting and I became compassionate.  "Are you okay."

	"Yes."  He pointed across the room.  "She is over there."  

	I stood on my tiptoes and bounced around trying to pick her out
of the heads quietly sitting around tables.  I realized his old
eyes were probably better than mine.

	Al shuffled off in that general direction and I followed. 
Masterfully changing the subject Al said, "How are you and Bram
coming along?"

	I had kept Al pretty much up to date with our progress.  "We
had almost made progress tonight until the Doc interrupted us."

	"Have patience, it will come in time.  I'm happy you've come
this far."  He nodded in the direction we were walking.  "In the
meantime, don't forget the rest of us."

	"Oh Al, you don't think I've been ignoring you?  Have I?"

	"I know you're not ignoring me Kiddo.  Others..."

	"Is she mad at me?"

	"Not exactly.  She needs your help."

	"And I wasn't there for her."  I finished knowing it was the
only conclusion.

	"Well... There's plenty of people here that could take on that
role.  She trusts you that's all.  And..."  He waved me towards
a door, an all too familiar door.  "She's in your closet."

	Now let's take a step back here and put yourself in my shoes.
For more than a year I've been hiding in that closet.  I've been
hiding from the vampires, from fear and from myself.  Mona, an
outgoing young woman who doesn't know of vampires, hasn't really
had anything to fear and no reason to go into hiding, was indeed
hiding in my old hiding place.  She's welcome to it since I have
a new haunt.  I had a mind to leave her alone in there, knowing
full well that is what I would want.

	However, I couldn't.  No, it's not because it was my job to
talk to her.  It was because in all good conscious I couldn't
let her do what I had done to myself.

	I knocked softly as not to startle her too badly.  A sniffle
was all I heard.  I knocked a little louder this time, trying
not to attract attention, and spoke into the door jam.  "Mona?"

	"Go away."  I heard through the sobs.

	I took a deep breath.  This was harder than I thought it would
be.  Through her I was reliving my own sorrows as I pictured
Lacey on this side of the door and me in her place.  Lacey must
have had a pretty strong will to stand here and convince me out
of there.  I really didn't want to go through the effort of
doing so for Mona.  Yet I was afraid that Mona just might be
stubborn enough to stay in there as long as I would.  Or worse
she could hurt herself.  I hoped there was no knife that
mysteriously found its way into the closet.

	"Mona, I'm not going away."  I tried again.  "I'm going to open
the door now."

	"No!"  An anguished cry came from inside.  My heart jumped and
I thought maybe she had hurt herself.  The door flew open.  She
was huddled in the corner and I couldn't see if she was hurt or
not.

	"Are you okay?"  I knelt down beside her.

	She swatted at me.  "Leave me alone."

	"What's wrong?"  I slowly moved closer.

	"Nothing."  Of course there was nothing wrong.  There never is.

	I thought about the pills in my pocket, even gripped them as if
to take them out.  Then I released them and put my hand out to
her.

	Now, I am not a particularly compassionate woman and I have
hardly any motherly instincts.  Yet I felt compelled to hold
her.  My fingers touched her shoulder cautiously.  She did not
hit them away.  I managed to get my hand on her shoulder and
then my arm slid behind her and before I knew it she was hugging
me and crying whole heartedly.  I patted her back and rocked her
a little shushing her tears away.

	Many minutes later her weeping slowed and her sniffles
subsided.  Despite the large stain on my shirt now I let her
stay there.  I cautiously broached the subject again.  "Are you
okay?"  She nodded into my shoulder.  So I dared to try again. 
"What happened?"  The slight left to right movement of her head
told me she didn't want to talk abut it.  Generally, I would
have respected her privacy but in a way I had a feeling this was
indirectly related to the reason I came.  "Did someone hurt you?"

	There was no movement.  She didn't even breathe.  This told me
all I needed to know.  "I'm so sorry."  A sob.  "I hate to tell
you this, but it won't be the first time."

	"I know."  She wiped her cheek free of tears.

	Perplexed I asked.  "How much do you know?"

	Either confused by my question or hearing me wrong she said. 
"All men are bastards."

	Well, I had to agree with her there even Bram could be one. 
"Which man is the main offender?"

	Finally her defenses broke down and she whined.  "Sinclair
broke up with me."

	I tried holding back the laugh I really did.  "Is that all this
is about?"

	"Yes."  Her voice showed her offense.

	I corrected myself quickly.  "I thought someone had beat you."

	She backed off of me.  "No..."  Her memory went back a few
minutes and it clicked. "I could get beat here?"

	"Among other things."  I nodded sullenly.

	"They've beat you."  

	"On occasion."

	"How horrible."  Then after a pause, "I want to leave here."

	"So do I.  We can't."  She shook her head in defiance and
looked out to the slave court.  "I assure you most of them would
like to leave too.  None are willing to take the chance."

	"What chance?"

	I shrugged.  I didn't really know.  I just knew it would be
bad.  "I've never known anyone who's tried it.  I do know people
have been killed for less."

	The tears started welling up again.  I felt my own eyes
watering.  The happiness I found with Bram suddenly seemed
insignificant compared to the loss of freedom.  I had to ground
myself.  Like Bram said: "Put up the shield to deflect the bad
emotions."  I had let Mona's fear effect me.  I had to
consciously picture the roots and the bubbles.  Whether it was
the concentration on this or it actually blocked her emotions, I
felt better.  I took her hand hoping some of my new found
confidence would work its way back to her.  "It's not all bad
here.  There are reasons to stay."

	"No.

	"Sure there are.  I found someone to love.  I'm sure you will
find someone other than Sinclair."

	"I didn't love Sinclair."

	I blinked.  "You didn't?  Then why are you so upset?"

	"I was using him.  Just like you use them."

	"Me?"

	"To find a way to escape."  She wiped more tears away.  "He
somehow found out and got upset with me."

	I shook my head.  I couldn't believe this was happening.  "Do
you know how he found out?"

	"I didn't tell anyone.  I can't figure it out."

	Well, if this wasn't a good enough opening nothing was.  "Do
you believe in the supernatural?"

	She became curious with the change in conversation.  "I've seen
a ghost before.  Why?"

	Toni spotted Heremon across the room.  "How old do you think he
is?"

	"I don't know, 43?"

	"Try over 800."

	Her jaw dropped.  "Wow!  He's immortal?"

	I shrugged.  "Kind of.  He's not exactly human."  I was finding
this harder by the minute.

	"He's alien!?"  She almost whispered it in disbelief.

	"Not quite, he is of this world."  I looked over at him,
smiling and having a good time, then again maybe he was an alien.

	Still not getting it she tried again.  "So he's what, a God?"

	"Try a vampire."  Out of all the things she had guessed you
would think my statement to be believable.

	"Yeah right."  At least she wasn't crying anymore.

	"Really, he is.  So's Bram."

	"No."  There was excitement and a little fear showing in her
cheeks as she leaned forward.  "There's no such things as
vampires."

	"But there are ghosts?"

	She straightened a little.  "I can't believe it."

	"Believe it."  I pulled back the sleeve of my blouse to expose
the inside of my elbow.  There were distinctive flat, red marks
shaping a semicircle centered around my basilic vein.  They were
obviously bite marks from the last feeding.

	"Why... why would you tell me this?"

	"Well, it explains why Sinclair would know that you were
thinking of leaving.  He read your mind."  I rolled down my
sleeve and looked up to find her jaw dangling from her skull. 
"Yes, Sinclair's is one too."

	If I thought her disbelief over vampires was bad, this put her
into shock.  Her hands covered her mouth when she said, "No
you're lying!"

	"I wish I was."  This was hard for me to see her like this I
was in her place at one time.

	She jumped up screamed such that I thought my ears would bleed.
 Well, I failed miserably at my task.  This thought was driven
home when I looked out to the court and saw all eyes were on us.
 I too jumped to my feet.  That was only to shut the door and
close us into the dark.  This had a detrimental effect on Mona
as her screams which had begun to subside were renewed and her
hands fluttered about such that I was hit several times as I
tried to find the light switch.  

	I threw the light on so that I could find her mouth.  Putting
my hand over it didn't help.  I looked around for a cloth or
something to shove in it but none were handy.  I just had to
shush her and tell her to calm herself.  I forced her eyes to
look into mine.  They were far away and almost cloudy.  I
realized she was beginning to faint.  I wished I had smelling
salts but all I could think of was slapping her.  I hated the
whole idea of that.  I was losing her and knew I had no other
choice.  I patted her cheek at first.  

	It had no effect.  One after another I hit her harder and
harder until her head went flinging to one side.

	Her screams had stopped and her eyes now bore into me.

	I was equally upset with her and was first to ask "What did you
do that for?"  Her question came seconds after mine so I claimed
my right, "I asked you first."  It was her turn to roll up a
sleeve.  "Look."  She shoved her arm toward me.

	"What?"  I asked.  She looked down at it then back at me.

	"There...  He..."  There was nothing there.

	"Don't you dare scream."  I moved so I'd be in a good position
to quiet her.  I got a hold of her arms and sat her slowly. 
"Tell me what happened."

	"He..."

	"Take a deep breath."

	She did and started again.  "He cut my arm."

	Unlike our captors, I wasn't completely psychic so I urged her
to go on.

	"Then he cut his."

	This didn't sound good.  Cutting her arm could only have meant
he had already drunk from her.

	"He said it was a blood pact.  You know like kids do to swear
to each other they'd be together forever."  

	"Please tell me you didn't..."

	She nodded.  My heart pounded and my hands shook as I raised
them to my forehead.  "Are you sure his blood touched your
wound?  Are you absolutely sure."  I had learned by now how
these vampires were made and by the sound of it.  Mona was
slowly becoming one herself and didn't know it.

	Her voice caught in her throat.  "We... rubbed it in." 

	I rubbed my eyes.  "God Mona..."

	"What?  I didn't know... How was I supposed to know... Nobody
told me."

	"They should have.  They should have let you know a long time
ago, especially if they knew about Sinclair.  Hell they should
have known what he was doing."

	"I'll be okay right?  I mean you can stop it."

	"Stop it?  Mona, look at your arm.  There is no wound.  The
blood has healed it.  It's in your system.  The only way to stop
it is to drain you of blood."

	"No.  It can't be.  I don't feel like a vampire.  I can't be." 
She started mumbling the last over and over.

	"It's too late for you.  You'll be one of them.  It's not like
you have a choice." 

	She did have a choice.  One she was now going to make.  "Kill
me."

	"What?!"

	"Please... You're the only one that can help me."

	"Help you?  By killing you?"  I fingered the pill bottle in my
pocket again.  He knew.  He knew it would come to this.  They
weren't just to calm her.  Then I remembered he also offered
them to me.  Damn him!  I was no longer suicidal.  Why would he
do such a thing?  That wasn't my problem right now.  I fear
these pills would no longer help her.  If her arm had healed on
its own it was already too late for her and I told her so.

	"It can't be.  There must be a way."

	"Do your realize what you're saying?"  I took her by the
shoulders so she'd look at me.  "You are given eternal life and
you want to end it before it's begun?"

	"You're one to talk.  You came close to taking your own life."

	"That was different."

	"How?"

	"I'm not immortal!"

	She eyed me in a scary way.  "You're not dead yet."

	"What are you saying?"

	"Haven't you ever wondered why they spare your life but allow
others to die?"

	To be honest I hadn't.  Now that she mentioned it I was
beginning to wonder at how easily Denise and Lowell's deaths
were put aside.  "No, we fought for Lowell's life.  He was on
life support for a few days.  He would have been saved had Kama
not sabotaged the device."

	I was mercifully saved her reply by a knock on the door and
Al's voice filtered through.  "Toni, a word please."

	"I'll be right back.  No more contemplations of suicide."  I
ordered her as I turned the handle.  

	I closed the door behind me and Al pulled me to one side and
whispered.  "What's going on in there?"

	I didn't know what to tell him.  It was all too confusing, too
much all at once.  So I simply said, "Sinclair shared blood with
her."

	"No?"

	"Yes."

	"That must be what it's all about."

	"What's what about?"

	"There's excitement in the vampire community."  As far as I
could tell by the activity of the court it was now morning and
the vampires should all be sleeping.  If they weren't...

	"Why would they be excited about this?"

	He shook his head.  "Gary came by and asked about Mona. 
Urquhart needs to see her."

	"Urquhart?"  I didn't know anyone by that name.

	"He's a pretty solitary scientist.  I guess we should pull Mona
out of there."

	"Good luck.  She's suicidal."

	"That may be for the best."

	"Al!"

	"Admit it, if you were in her place wouldn't you wish to die
than become one of them?

	I did have to admit to that.  I just wouldn't admit it to him. 
Anyway he had the door open.  He whispered something to her and
I had to take a step back as she rose and he led her out of the
closet.  She didn't say anything to me but looked at me with
such disappointment I couldn't meet her gaze.

	Once Al and Mona disappeared around the corner I sought out
Gary.  He was sitting with several others.  Lacey was, to my
amusement, nearly sitting in his lap.  "Excuse me."  I said to
the others.  "Gary, what does Urquhart want with Mona?"

	He shrugged.  "I'm just a messenger."

	Lacey asked, "Is there something wrong?"

	"Very much so."  I contemplated this.  "Who is Urquhart?"

	"He's one of the King's advisors."  Gary explained.

	A vampire then to be sure.  "A scientific advisor?"  I asked
more of myself.

	"I guess you can call him that.  Though I've never seen him in
a lab, he's more of a scholar."

	"I'm sure he's just hungry."  Lacey patted the seat next to her
inviting me to sit.

	I really wasn't in the mood for gossiping.  "Not unless he
drinks from other vampires."

	"What do you mean?"

	Well, I unwittingly allowed myself to be trapped into the
gossip circle. I took the offered seat and I told them
everything.  Gary didn't seem at all surprised, though the
others did.  Gary said he supposed that Urquhart may be
attempting to prove that Mona was becoming one of them. 

	I had never known anyone who had gone through the process. 
Well, except for the Master of All Things, but I hadn't really
spoken to him since.  Gary took pleasure in telling us horror
stories of some who were unfortunate enough to be like Mona and
be turned slowly.  "It's really unpleasant." He bent forward
with the semblance of a campfire storyteller.  "The first few
days you just feel like you're going to throw up all day long. 
One girl, Carmen, nearly died of dysentery."  There were gags
from the audience.  "While your digestive system is adjusting
your blood starts to transform the rest of you.  Your skin
begins to itch and you keep scratching digging gashes in
yourself.  If the transformation is slow enough they don't heal
immediately and you get infections so they become pussy and
green."  I myself wasn't enjoying his visualizations and really
wanted to leave.  Lacey however had her hand digging into my arm
trying to get away from Gary.  

	As if about to tell us the ghost was going to pop out he got
quiet, "The worst part is the eyes.  They begin to hurt with
just the slightest bit of light.  If you even look at a candle
you get a migraine so bad you wish you had no eyes.  If you're
not turned fast enough the migraines will drive you insane. 
Insane like One-eyed Jacques."  There were a few groans.  "Oh,
you don't believe me eh?  Just wait until the middle of the day
when all is quite.  From deep in the complex you'll hear a
whimpering."  He made a sound like a dog crying.  "Then it'll
turn into a whine and finally a blood curdling scream!"  He
shrieked and shot his hands towards Lacey making her jump and
screech in my ear. 

	I sat there and took all his bullshit.  If he thought anyone
other than Lacey was buying it he was mistaken.  "So where is
this Jack?"

	"Jacques."  He corrected with a finger.  "They keep him in a
cage deep below us, out of sight."

	"Yeah?  If he's so insane why don't they put him out of his
misery?"  Paul asked.

	Gary had an answer for everything.  "They keep him around for
the really nasty jobs.  He'll kill almost anything that comes
within 100 feet of him."

	Still skeptical Paul asked, "How does he stay alive if no one
feeds him?"

	"Oh he's fed."  Gary explained.  "Not by humans.  He mostly
likes blood of feral animals.  Every once in a while he's given
a special treat..."  Okay I had to admit he did have us sitting
on the edge of our seats while he waited to make sure he had our
attention.  "Other vampires."

	The air was heavy on the small group until Bea finally spoke,
"Right Gary and this wild card is going to fulfill the
prophecy."  She stood and took Paul with her.

	I blinked at Gary, "What prophecy?"  

	Gary waved it off.  "Just another fairy tale."

	"It wasn't true?"  Lacey asked abashed.  I wasn't sure which
she was referring to.

	Gary smiled devilishly.  "Of course not.  Just a tale passed
down among slaves."  He looked up at me.  "In reality it really
is a horribly painful process.  It's much better when a person
is nearly drained and their blood is replaced with that of the
donating vampire.  The metamorphosis takes effect much more
quickly and while it might be painful it's over fast.  Or so I
hear."  He shrugged and took Lacey's hand gently reassuring her.
 "It's not really as bad as it sounds."  I hoped so, for Mona's
sake. 

	When I went to bed I had no good dreams.  I woke shivering
though I was not cold.  I would fall asleep only to do it once
more.  When I finally rose the room had returned to normal
activity.  I could not find Mona that night, nor the next.  All
inquires about her were met with indifference.  I even tried
asking a vampire.  He only bit me and sent my on my way.

	A gathering was called.  I knew.  Somehow I knew what was going
to happen.  All day it occupied my mind.  I worked hard in the
kitchen preparing some platters trying to keep my mind off of
it.  Finally it was time for the gathering.  I picked up one of
the trays and walked with the crowd out to the meeting room.  It
was packed as normal for a gathering.  I stepped into the water
as if it were second nature to do so.  The cool water gave me
goose bumps for just a few seconds, then I started off down the
stream.  I passed the first bunch of vampires sitting on the
cement shore.  They were already being served by others.  I made
my way down closer to the king.  Far enough away to not be
noticed but close enough to see what was going on.  

	The mood in the room was much more sober than on previous
occasions.  This did not help to make me feel better about Mona.
 Had they been welcoming her into their mists the atmosphere
should be much lighter. 

	I started handing out food to those around me taking my time
while watching the happenings around the king in my peripheral
vision.  The King started the meeting without preamble as was
normal for him.  He stood grim faced.  The gold crown sat high
upon his brow and his regal chin lifted upwards as if snubbing
his nose at the audience.  The room grew silent and he turned to
the curtained stage area to his left.  I held my breath knowing
what was behind there; being in her place once before.  This was
different.  There would be no Dance of Equanimity tonight.

	The curtains drew slowly open and poor Mona looked in
wonderment at the crowd.  She covered herself as if she were
naked. The King beckoned her forward and I saw her fight as her
legs moved against her will towards the King.

	When she was in full view and not three feet from him he spoke
down to her loud enough for all to hear.  "I have been king for
centuries and all have enjoyed the benefits of my rule." He made
wide gestures to the audience.  Some vampires cheered him on.  

	He really was a powerful speaker.  As he spoke his gestures
were not overexaggerated and enough to gain your attention.  He
stood like a reverent preacher without sermonizing.  Even now
his tone did not make you fear the devil, only him. "There are
those, however, that would take advantage of my kindness and
love for my people."  He nodded now broadly sweeping in those
below.  Again there was noise from the crowd, jeers this time. 
I realized they were like an organized religion.  All they
needed now were hymn books.  "I can not and will not tolerate
those who would break our sacred rules to gain power for their
own selfishness."

	Mona cringed as he spat out the last word.  He lowered his face
to hers and held her chin with the tips of his fingers so she'd
be looking directly at him.  "Some are not meant to be vampires."

	He straightened and called out while scowling at Mona. 
"Sinclair, step forward."  Half a second later he was there
facing the King.  He looked smaller than I had remembered. 
Perhaps it was because he was crouching somewhat in supplication
to the King.  In fact he looked as if he were about to drop to
the floor and grovel for forgiveness

	The king issued his order.  "You have created this abomination,
and thus you are responsible for her.  Do what is right."

	"Yes my lord."  His voice was weaker than his looks.  

	I saw Mona shaking violently now as she wanted to run and the
King held her there petrified without laying a finger on her. 
Sinclair started towards her and every muscle in my body
tightened.  I felt a hand upon my shoulder.  I knew it was Bram
behind me.  I had felt him there just before he touched me.  I
hadn't even seen him move from his seat by the King's side.  I
turned and leaned into him hiding my face in his chest.  He held
me there, but he could not hide Mona's screams from my ears.  I
wanted to scream for her when I heard the sound of ringing metal
as a sword was drawn from its scabbard.  Worst of all he could
not hide the cold swipe of air and the following thud as I knew
her head hit the ground.  Cheers from all the vampires in the
room filled me like electricity and my knees gave out.   

	It wasn't over though and the room soon fell silent once again.
 The King had silenced them and Bram held me closer so I
wouldn't have to see what came next.  "Now come to me."  The
sword clanged to the ground and the slow shuffling of feet was
all the sound in the entire hall. 

	Then a squirming raspy voice begged, "No please.  I have
learned my lesson.  I will not conceive another without your
permission."  

	Now somewhat kindly yet still firm the King said, "I have no
choice.  It is the law."

	It was only a second or so before I heard the unmistakable
crunch of teeth biting violently into a person's neck.  Only a
small squeak of pain followed.  A chill ran through my body.  My
stomach heaved but nothing came up as I clenched my throat with
a fist.  

	Before I knew it Bram had whispered in my ear, "It's over." 

	The room was emptying out rather quickly.  No one had a wish to
stay in this place of death.  I didn't even look towards the
stage. Some other slaves would see to the cleanup and cremation
of the bodies.  I was thankful I wasn't on that team.  I was
still in Bram's arms though my face was no longer hidden.  Too
bad as I had to watch Heremon's approach.  His swaggering walk
stopped just above us as Bram and I were still knee deep in
water.  "So, going to have a difficult time investigating this
murder aren't you?"  There were a few snickers behind us.

	I could feel that Bram wanted to rip his head off.  Or maybe
that was just me.  "Go to hell."  Nope, it was Bram.  He had
growled so balefully at Heremon that the little man took a step
back away from us.  

	Keir, as he passed, smiled in our direction and took Heremon
lightly by the arm escorting him from the room.  I was glad to
see both of them leave.  Kama too, I saw leaving.  She glanced
in our direction, that was all.  Bram was right.  It was finally
over.