Leaving the Light By: Christine Schnell

Chapter 31



	With the spectacle over, the room had emptied leaving Bram and
me virtually alone.  Bram slowly lifted me out of the water and
we walked toward the exit.  "I'm sorry.  I know she was your
friend."

	"Thank you."  It was all I could manage.

	From behind us I heard a voice, "Wow!  Did you see the way her
head slid then bounced.  It must have been two feet in the air
at least. Swoosh, crunch, smash, splat!"  He managed to over
exaggerate the sounds so that they almost sounded real.  My
words just don't do them justice.

	"Erik, I don't really think it's appropriate."  Bram held me. I
wasn't crying but I wasn't feeling too swift either.

	"Ah, do we have a weak stomach?"  He patted me on the head and
I felt like vomiting on him just to make a point.  This really
did show me a new side of Erik for me.  How could one be excited
about such a thing?  It was so inhumane.  Then again he wasn't
human.  Erik was one of the few vampires I had met that I didn't
think of as vampires... until now.

	Bram whispered in my ear.  "You'll have to forgive him.  He was
a court jester before."

	Just as conniveingly, "Didn't they kill the unfunny ones?"

	"I'm sorry little seņorita, old habits are hard to break.  It's
just this Mona.  She should never have been vampire."  We had
reached the slave court.  He pulled out a chair for me.  Bram
sat protectively between Erik and me. "I am just very happy to
see justice served."

	"Justice?  That's sick.  She was an innocent."

	"This is what happens when one of the cardinal rules are
broken."  Erik started to play with pen left on the table.  He
twirled it on the table like a top. 

	"What rule?  How did Mona break a rule?"

	"As you heard the King, Sinclair gave Mona his blood without
the kings permission.  This is one of the rules that must never
be broken else you'd be punished to death."  Bram explained with
a bit of patience.

	"Still she didn't break it, she didn't even know about
vampires.  Sinclair is the only one who should have been
punished."

	"This is true.  However, she was no longer a slave so she was
subject to our laws."  Erik tried to explain but it didn't help.
He balanced the pen lengthwise on his finger and made it spin
around a bit.

	"Simply put,"  Bram interjected, "she wasn't supposed to be a
vampire and didn't wish to be one.  So the only thing that could
be done was."

	Therefore, the King killed her because he didn't want her to be
a vampire?  That's justice when one man decides who lives and
who dies.  Wary of this I asked, "Why wasn't I told these rules?"

	"You know the ones that are for you to know."  Bram explained
without really explaining.

	Erik tried to be a little more helpful.  "Like the rule about
no slave fraternization without permission."

	I knew of the rule with an exception. "Without permission?"

	"Well yeah, you know if say Kama wanted to watch you with-"

	"Erik, you're not helping."  The mention of Kama upset me.
"Listen basically what we're just trying to say is that when
someone dies around here it's generally because they broke a
rule."

	"What rule did Lowell and Denise break?"

	"I said generally.  Sometimes people just die."

	When I looked next, Erik was balancing the pen on his nose.  I
rolled my eyes then said, "But Lowell didn't just die.  He was
executed, maybe not publicly like Mona but still..."

	"Lowell was not an innocent." Erik said without dropping the
pen.

	That wasn't much of a surprise.  His knowledge of it was.  "You
told me before you didn't know anything about his death. 
Except; you said Bram killed him."

	Finally the pen dropped forgotten.  "I told you Bram had an
argument with him.  It was how you interpreted the conversation
that tilted his guilt in your mind."

	"Yes, well 'HE' didn't kill Lowell.  That much has been
established."  Bram interjected.

	I patted him on the hand.  Of course we knew this.  I pondered
Erik's toy for a moment then remembered.  "Why were you and
Lowell arguing over Darika?"

	"Darika has nothing to do with this."

	"Then why does her name keep popping up?"

	"Does it?"  What did he know of any of my conversations?  "Are
you sure, you're not the instigator?"

	"Well, Erik mentioned you and Lowell arguing about her then-" I
suddenly remembered the rest of what Erik said.  "What is it
that Lowell wanted her to keep?"

	Bram shook his head and brushed my hair.  "Is that what you've
been fretting about all this time?  It's nothing, a trinket he
had given her.  Besides I thought you were finished with this
investigation?"

	He knew I still had unanswered questions.  These questions
would be answered eventually, yet had I known then...  Well,
suffice it to say I wouldn't have gone seeking their answers. He
was right though.  It was all over.  Did it really matter why
Kama killed Lowell?

	He kissed me gently and I found myself suddenly relaxed.  No,
it no longer mattered why or how.  It only mattered that she
did, and right at that moment, that didn't even matter because I
was with Bram and he was the only thing that did matter.

	Bram stood quickly nearly dropping me to the ground.  I
squealed, "Bram!"

	"I have to go to the bathroom."  He called over his shoulder.

	"Isn't that just like a man?  Kiss you, then drop you for
something more pressing?"  Erik was bemused at the change in
conversation.

	I wasn't going to let him get off that easily, after all, we
were somewhat alone now.  "Why was Lowell killed Erik?  And why
was Bram arguing with him?"

	"I can not say."

	"You can't say because you don't know, or because something's
holding you back?"

	He had already taken up the pen again on his finger and
shrugged his shoulders with out it even tipping.  "How do you do
that?"

	Erik dropped it and showed it to me.  I do not have much of a
sense of balance so I knew it was futile to take it.  "The
trick," he made a noise as if he were preparing to spit.  "is to
get it a little wet first."  He applied a liberal amount of
saliva to the end of it, then stuck the wet side down onto the
tip of his finger.

	Basically it created a bit of glue.  I understood the principle
of it if not approved of the method.

	Bram returned saving me from further demonstrations. 
"Sometimes when we eat food after an extensive fast our system
has trouble digesting it."  

	"Too much information."  I told him.

	"It's a good thing to know."  He informed me.  "That's why we
eat a little on a regular basis.  It's like keeping the immune
system's memory intact.  Of course if we eat something really
fibrous-"

	"I said too much information."  I had covered his mouth with my
hand.  I could feel it vibrate as he chuckled.

	"Perhaps Sir Bram was a jester in a previous life, no?"

	"No."  Bram and I both said together.



	I was no longer a happy camper.  I had spent the rest of the
day with Bram, but come night he was off again.  Now I was alone
and had nothing to do at the moment.  I sat in front of my
computers and just stared at them.  The screens were a steady
shade of green, my background color of choice.  It was a staring
contest I was bound to lose.

	I had no test to run, nothing to research, and worst of all I
could think of nothing to write.  My mind was as blank as the
screens.  Why had I come here?  Other than to pout?  

	Mindlessly I typed Mona's name into the computer.  It seemed
right.  Someone should keep a record of her death.  It didn't
appear that anyone else would remember her here.  Even I didn't
know her that well and the small biography I could write on her
was a feeble attempt.  After the short paragraph on her I typed
three other names.  Lowell Torunn, Denise Goodsmith, and Frank. 
It was sad I didn't even know Frank's last name.  I made a
mental note to talk to Dr. Wendel about him.  As little as I had
for Mona, I had less for the others.  I made sure to list their
killers, even Denise's no matter how much it pained me to put
Bram's name there.

	As therapeutic as this was, it was short lived.  I had no more
names.  I typed a little bit more information, as much as I
could, into their biographies including all information on their
deaths, locations, motivations, etc.  What more could I do? 	

	I stared at the screen more.  I know I had told myself it was
over.  There was no more point in investigating this besides
there was nothing left to investigate.  Except to remember them.
 Them and any others.  I began to wonder how many other names
there had been before I came.  How many other's are already
forgotten?  I would not forget.  From hence on I swore I'd
remember all of those who die in captivity here.

	Perhaps there were others who had died quietly even while I was
here.  I had an urge to go find out.  Presently I remembered how
I was treated while trying to investigate Lowell's death.  How
would these people feel if I started investigating more deaths?  

	No, if I am to find out about others who have died I'll have to
let others tell me.  I can not initiate it, at least for now. 
Most likely I should keep this completely to myself.  I couldn't
even let vampires know I'm doing this.  They shouldn't be upset,
but one never knows.

	I hoped that maybe I would find a pattern.  Learn exactly what
they did wrong other than "break the rules."  Perhaps it could
help prevent needless deaths.

	What was I thinking?!  Needless?  They should be honored.  They
had managed to escape in the way that I hadn't found the nerve
to: through death.

	Maybe I could use their experiences as a how-to.  Now that
would be something!  Trick a vampire into making me a vampire so
that I'd be killed.  Yeah, except I can't stand the idea of
being one of them for even a short time.

	Simpler than that; I could learn what rules to break to get
myself killed.  The problem there is learning those rules. 
Everyone seems so tight lipped about these things.  Maybe if I
just kept on pissing off Kama she'd do me in just like Lowell.

	Poor Bram.  I couldn't leave him now.  Could I?  I love him. 
There is no doubt in my mind.  The question was, how free is
that love?  Certainly, no one attempted to keep us apart and yet
Bram and Erik reminded me I was bound by the rules set forth by
the vampires.  Anyone at any time could conceivably come between
us.  I could be ordered away from him and there would be nothing
I could do.  

	I began to wonder just how long my relationship with Bram could
hold together under those circumstances.  He would understand,
certainly.  Could I live with myself though?  I have been with a
few vampires since we had really begun our relationship.  It
hasn't bothered me too badly.  Mostly I've felt the pain of
being away from him.  How would it affect me a few years down
the road?

	Would I get used to it, or would I hunger more for his
presence?  I fear I'd wish for him to come and rescue me each
time, that I would depend upon him for it.  I couldn't allow
that to happen.  I couldn't thrust that responsibility upon him.

	Ah, to hell with it!  I was happy when I was with him.  That
was all that mattered.  Who cares if there were periods
in-between when I wasn't happy.  If there weren't I'd have
nothing to compare that happiness to and I wouldn't appreciate
it as much.

	I saved my file and turned off the computer.  I would think
about death and depression another day.  I've had enough of it
for now.



	The next day indeed was another day and a day of chores at
that.  With most electrical devices in good repair at the moment
I was assigned some of the more despicable tasks.  Today I
received the honor and privilege of cleaning some of the women's
toilets.  I say some because there is no conceivable way that
one person could clean them all in one day.  It was bad enough
that I cleaned two of the larger ones.  I wondered what exactly
I had done to deserve this glorious assignment.  

	No matter.  I had to do as I was told right?  To begin with I
headed over to my faithful closet.  Hopefully no one had beaten
me to the mop that is normally stored there.  If so, I'd have to
go seek out another hidden in some dark hole of this labyrinth.

	I opened the door just a crack and peeked inside.  It was dark
so naturally I had to turn on the light.  The mop was indeed
there, though it was pushed towards the back.  I begrudedingly
entered the closet and try to negotiate its release.  I moved
one box and tugged on the mop.  It wouldn't budge.

	A wave of melancholy came over me.  I found myself in no mood
to be diplomatic.  I fussed halfheartedly with the mop handle. 
Soon, I gave that up and plopped down on the pile of rags that I
was sure was kept in the closet for this reason.

	Mona had sat here last.  I had refused to help her.  I
shouldn't have.  I could have saved her the shame of being slain
by those who cared nothing for her.  At least it would have been
on her terms.

	How could I have known?  I thought she had centuries ahead of
her.  I never would have thought that I would out live her.  It
just wasn't fair.	

	Mona was dead for no reason other than the King didn't want her
to be a vampire.  I suppose she would have been okay with it
eventually.  I can't believe that.  How could anyone ever be
okay with it?  Alas she and I'll never find out.

	Murdered for no clear reason other than the King didn't like
her.

	How can I judge Kama so harshly when I witnessed two extremely
brutal murders?  She presumably had a better motive.  I probably
shouldn't have investigated Lowell's death as far as I had. 
Maybe she did have a valid reason.  Was I wrong about her the
whole time?

	What was I thinking?  Murder is still murder.  Some are just
more inhumane than others.  I guess in a way the King's murder
of Mona was merciful.  She wouldn't have to live as one of them.
 What then of his murder of Sinclair?  Sinclair was happy being
what he was.

	I realized I still didn't understand these vampires.

	And what of the slaves?  Not one person including myself stood
up to protect her.  We who are too afraid for our own lives, and
so a friend of ours loses hers.  It just wasn't right.

	I wiggled on the small pile of rags.  It was as comfortable as
the subject matter that I was pondering.  I wiggled around a
little more and realized part of the reason I was having a hard
time was there was a lump right under my right buttocks.  I dug
around under me, hoping not to find anything gross.  It was a
bit of a shock when my fingers landed on something cold and
metallic feeling.  Exploring a bit more my fingers wrapped
around the rectangular handle.  "Must be a wrench."  I thought
to myself and almost left it there.  Yet something told me to
pull it out.  It was solid and heavy like a wrench but it didn't
feel balanced like one.  I realized why when I held it before me
and nearly dropped it.

	A gun!  What was a gun doing here?  It looked real enough.  I
didn't know enough about guns to figure out how to get the clip
out and see if it was loaded so I gently placed it down on a box
before me.  Had Mona brought it here?  Was that why she was
hiding in the closet?  It was possible she couldn't bring
herself to use it.  I wouldn't be able to, as tempting as it
was.  It would be so easy to pull the trigger and it would all
be over.  There wouldn't be much pain like when I tried to slash
my wrists.

	That image brought to mind another idea.  What if Mona hadn't
brought it here?  If she had, why hadn't she used it?  What if,
whoever had left the knife for me to find, also left the gun,
for either her or me?

	Who would do such a thing?  How could they do it without the
vampires knowing?  Why?  There was only one reason any weapon
would be left here.  I already experienced it.  

	I stared at the gun.  What should I do with it?  Turn it in? 
Right, and get a million questions as to why I even had it in my
possession.  The easiest thing to do was leave it there.  If
anybody has been reading my thoughts in the last few minutes
they'd certainly know to come get it.  Of course then they might
become upset with me for not informing them, especially if they
learned of it later.  No, the easiest thing to do was to use it.

	Why was I even hesitating?  I have been presented with a method
for my escape.  Have they finally gotten to me?  Weakened my
mind so that I no longer have the guts to go through with it? 
No.

	No more vampires, no more rules, no more slavery and doing as
I'm told.  Death would free me of all my problems.  It was all
just one little trigger pull away.  There definitely wasn't the
mess and pain that the knife had presented.  

	I picked up the gun and weighed it in my hands.  I would miss
Bram, and he no doubt would miss me.  He has lived for centuries
without me.  He'd get over it.

  	I took a deep breath and lifted the gun.  The tip of the
barrel was cold against my temple.

	I swallowed hard and made myself relax.  I reached out with my
mind for one last try to communicate with Bram.  I would say
good-bye and pull the trigger before he knew what I was doing.  

	I didn't feel him.  I took a couple deep breaths to calm
myself.  He had to be there.  He wasn't that far away I know.  I
pictured him in his room.  He wasn't there.  Then perhaps he was
in the slave court?  No.  I couldn't reach him.  I had to relax,
that was the key.  I concentrated on setting up my shield.  I
couldn't.  I couldn't picture it.  The gun was pressing too hard
against my head.  It kept breaking my concentration.

	I couldn't put it down.  I had to do this.  I had to end my
misery.  What was the point of living when everyone around me
was going to die eventually?  I couldn't be with Bram, not
really, not like I would wish in a normal world.  I couldn't
just leave him without saying good-bye.  Where was he?  

	My finger twitched on the trigger.  I couldn't wait any longer
someone might catch on to what I was doing.  "Do it!"  I
tightened my grip on the gun.  Was that me or was there someone
else?  I knew there was no one here, the voice could be my
imagination, or it could be one of them.  

	"It's not your time."  A distinctively different voice
whispered in my ear.  It wasn't me.

	My shield.  I needed to put up my shield.  I concentrated on
the bubbles and the roots.  None of it helped.  Another voice
called to me and broke me completely out of my trance.

	"Antoniette."  Tap tap tap.  How did Lacey always find me in
here?  I lowered the gun, I didn't want to frighten her with the
firing of a gun, then have my poor friend find my brains
splattered over the door she would open.

	"Antoniette, open this door."  Wait that wasn't Lacey.

	I stood and opened the door.  I found Kama scowling at me. 
Neither of us spoke.  It took me a second to realize she had her
hand out.  A second or two after that I felt the gun in my hand
and understood what she wanted.  I gave it to her willingly.

	"Where did you get this?"

	"It was hidden in here.  I don't know how it got there.  Maybe
Mona..."

	"Thank you."  She turned and started to walk away.

	"Mistress."  Don't ask me why I called out to her.  I still
don't understand why I did it.  I'm sure it was of my own
volition, well maybe not consciously.  She stopped and turned. 
"I'm sorry."  What was I sorry for?  For thinking about suicide
again?  Not really.  For yelling at her?  Maybe.  For thinking
her a murderer?  Definitely not.  She waited for me to decide. 
"I guess..."  I stuttered for a bit to find the words.  "I'm
sorry I treated you poorly without having all the information." 
There I said it.

	She smiled, turned and left.  I ran to wrap myself in Bram's
arms.



	No suicide attempts, no deaths, no fights, no people being
turned into vampires.  In comparison the next few months were
been moderately boring.  I went on with my day to day life.  If
you can call it living.  I spent my time cleaning, fixing broken
blenders, collating reports for the doctor in the computer,
exercising with Bram, sometimes we'd even go to the gym.  

	The monotony of everyday life kept my mind off more depressing
issues.  The inevitable came and went without incident.  I
served both Heremon and Keir as my duty demands and I didn't
even see Kama anywhere in the building.

	Of course just as you get used to a thing, something happens to
ruin it.  If one could bet on this there would be no need for
the lottery.

	"Toni!"  Someone called my name across the room.  I hate that. 
It's so embarrassing everyone looks to see your reaction.  So
right away whoever was calling me wasn't on my good side.  It's
not as if he couldn't have waited for me to get closer as I had
been walking in his general direction.  

	I walked up to Augustine whom I've never really had a problem
with and asked perhaps a little too sharply, "What?"

	He cowered.  "The jukebox is broken."

	"So fix it."

	"I don't know how." 

	"That makes two of us."

	"But you're an engineer."  He pleaded.

	I thought about arguing that there were other engineers.  I
felt responsible for this specific piece of equipment since I
was basically the reason it was here.  So I relented.  "Let's go
take a look."

	There of course was nothing I could do from the outside, other
than look at the wiring, so I had Augustine run and fetch my
toolbox.  By the time I got the back panel off my electric
screwdriver had made enough noise to attract quite a bit of
attention.  There were questions and whispers.  I ignored them
all.

	They quickly drifted off as they saw nothing really exciting
was happening.  No puffs of smoke, no clanging metal pieces
falling off, not even any blood from nearly getting my finger
caught in the mechanics.  The biggest show they got was a little
cursing from me as I couldn't figure out what exactly the
problem was.  I just hate people staring over my shoulder.  It
makes me feel as if I'm being pressured to get it right.  Then I
can't do anything at all.

	It's times like these that the Master of All Things would come
in handy.  He'd come in look at it, touch a few things and it
would start working.  He'd start to walk away.  I'd ask him what
he did and he'd reply "stuff."  

	He was a vampire now and wasn't even inclined to say "stuff" to
me.  So I probed and prodded and stared at it as if the answer
would jump out at me.  It didn't.

	Several people lingered and gave their two cents worth.  "Maybe
it's that blue thing."  One pointed.  "That looks loose." 
Another wiggled a wire.  I slapped his hand.  Bad enough I
didn't know what was wrong.  I couldn't concentrate when people
were interrupting my thoughts and more so when they're trying to
"help."

	Then the worst thing of all happened.  "Perhaps this is too
complicated for you.  We should find a real technician to fix
it."  The whiny voice could only belong to one person.  I closed
my eyes and took a deep breath trying to calm myself.

	"I can fix it Heremon.  Have no doubt." 

	"It's not a life support system is all I'm saying."

	"Thanks.  Your incredible knowledge has made it all clear to me
now."

	"We don't really need music here."

	"Oh?"

	"Not this artificial stuff anyway."  He said.  "We used to have
a grand band.  They were quite good."

	"What did they play?  'Eine Kliene Nachtmuzik,' right when it
was released?"

	"Why must you be so harsh?"

	"Why must you bother me while I'm working?"

	"I suppose I was wrong in thinking I could have an intelligent
conversation with you."

	"That would require intelligence on your part."  I was
surprised that I was not slapped at this point and so I took
this moment of silence as an opportunity to depart his company. 
I picked a circuit board at random.  "It's a problem on this
board.   I just need to take it to the lab."  I pulled it out
and stood so that my back was still to him.

	My stomach tightened when I heard him continue.  "It could be,
but it's the clock circuit you're thinking about, that's on this
other board."

	Oh it was a clock I was thinking about but it had nothing to do
with timing.  One nice tick-tock over his head would do it. 
Trying to slow my pounding heart I said warily.  "Thank you, but
I really think it's the serial to parallel converter on this
board."  

	"No wonder you had problems finding Lowell's murderer."  He
stopped me in my tracks with those words.  "You're so stupid you
can't even tell a phase detector from a parity generator if you
had their specifications in front of you."

	There was a crackling sound then a snap that reverberated
around the already silent room.  I really didn't understand
where the sound had come from until I felt a wet sensation on my
palm.  I looked down to find the circuit board split in two and
one side had sliced my palm.  

	I finally looked up to Heremon, as I realized what the small
amount of blood could mean.  I dropped the board and very
deliberately licked the blood from my palm myself.  A gesture
that I hoped would convey he wouldn't be welcome to any of my
blood.

	He stepped closer to me and my throat closed up.  He took a
hold of my wrist and brought it to face level.  I closed my fist
so tight that I feared my fingernails would dig new holes in it
for him to feed upon.

	He forced me closer and spoke so that only I could hear.  "One
day you shall learn respect for us."  He bit my wrist hard and
my knees buckled from the pain.  He kept me upright with his
other hand as he bit my wrist again.  Apparently the first time
he had not hit the vein.  I cried sharply and tried to pull
away.  His tongue slithered against my skin sending chills up my
arm.  He did not drink with the viciousness he normally did.  It
was a deep lethargic drink. 

	He was definitely showing his ability to have power over me.  I
was starting to feel a bit lightheaded and wouldn't be able to
stand much longer.  He must have sensed this and released my
hand but still held the collar of my shirt.  He leaned in and
with his red wet lips brushed against my ear.  "Never forget,
your life is in my hands, as it always has been."  He finally
released me completely.  "Now leave my sight."

	That was one order I was glad to follow.  As I left I heard him
say to one of the spectators.  "What are you all looking at? 
Get to work."



       I knocked on the door right between the clown's eyes. 
They blinked each time I rapped.  The door opened in mid-knock
and my hand landed on the sole of a foot.  I was amused as
Erik's toes wiggled hello.  He walked on his hands with ease
back into the room a few steps.  He looked up to me, smiled
cheekily and asked, "What can I do for you?"       

	"I need a favor."  He did a short jig and gestured me inside. 
His sense of balance impressed me.  He was short and sturdy not
really the type you'd think of as a jester.  

	He did a flip and a twirl and before I knew it he was upright
and facing me.  "Please be so kind as to tell me what's on your
mind."

	I hesitated, I knew he was the right man for the job, it's only
he has a way of throwing me off.  "Um... I need to play a
practical joke on someone."

	"A joke is grand, on whom do you want it to land?"

	I raised an eyebrow as I realized he was going to start rhyming
everything.  "Perhaps I should come back later."

	"Don't be afraid of prater.  You are a fine orator."

	"Can you be any less annoying?"

	"I find it enjoying."

	I sighed and figured I'd just have to ignore him.  "I want to
play a joke on a vampire without him knowing I did it."

	"Ah, come and sit.  I must admit; I'm the perfect wit for this
plan to commit."

	"Please stop this rhyming Erik.  I really mean it."  Ack, now I
was doing it.

	"All right, give me a minute."

	"ARGH!!"

	"Now then, who exactly do you want to do this to?"  He became
very business like.

	It took me a second to realize there was no rhyme then I said,
"I'm not sure I should tell you.  I mean if I think about it too
much..."

	"It will be okay.  However, how am I to tailor the joke if I
don't know the victim?"

	"Okay, it's Heremon."

	That didn't seem to faze him at all.  I think he was pleased. 
"And how extreme do you wish it to be?"

	"Well, I don't want him to die... or me."

	"Hmm, that makes it more difficult."

	"I guess I just want to embarrass him badly in front of all his
friends."

	"You are not afraid that would get you killed?"

	"Well, that's the point of him not knowing I was the one behind
it."

	"Ah, very well.  Let me see...  We could replace his sword with
a rubber one."

	It didn't take me long to decide against that one.  "No, the
only place he uses it generally is in the (practice) room.  I
wouldn't be able to watch as he discovered it."

	"So you must revel in his mortification?"

	"Pretty much."

	"What about dumping a bucket of pig's blood on his head as he
enters the common room?"

	"Nah, too old school, plus it would make other's curious before
he walks in and he might avoid it."

	"Old School!"  He was offended.  "Old jokes are the best."

	"Yes, but they're old and everyone knows about them.  I mean, a
whoopee cushion would be easily seen.  A bag with dog doo set on
fire in front of his door would be put out by sprinkler systems
before he ever got to it.  It needs to be invisible something he
wouldn't automatically assume was a joke and go searching for
the culprit."

	"Something that might be an everyday occurrence?"

	Everyday occurrence?  Something that wouldn't seem out of place
because it happens regularly.  As in being regular.  Erik and I
exchanged glances.  It would be perfect and we had Bram to thank
for it.

	

	Lacey was never someone I would have suspected to be any good
at chess.  So it surprised me the first time we played that she
easily beat me.  That's not really saying much after all I
wasn't very good at chess either.  I had thought I had gotten
better playing Bram.  After loosing to Lacey many times, I began
to wonder if he was going easy on me.  Lacey was vicious and had
no sympathy as she whacked my King off the board time after
time.  I had become used to her energetic "Checkmate!" by now
even if it was a sound I was loathe to hear.  The few times I
had won, and done a victory dance around the table, she left and
wouldn't talk to me for a day.  She wasn't really a poor loser. 
She just thought I was a poor winner.  Okay, I would gloat a
little that she had lost her touch, but I wasn't mean about it.

      	We were deep into one of these mind games and I didn't
even notice the first two times Heremon had walked passed me. 
The third time, I couldn't help as he was pushing people and
cursing.  "Move slime!  Can't you see I'm in a hurry? Damn
quarter-witted servants.  Move your ass!"

	Once he was gone I looked to Lacey.  "What was all that about?"

	"I think he's having incontental problems."

	"Huh?"

	"The guy has the runs."  A slave behind me helped out.

	"Oh."  Then it hit me.  My smile grew and grew.  "Checkmate!"

	"Where?!"  Lacey searched the board.

	"Not you."

	"I don't get it."

	"Never mind."  I moved my rook to block her knight and noticed
I was only two moves from a check.  

	Al was there watching us intently and whispered.  "You didn't
do what I think you did, did you?"

	"Al, I'm shocked!  You know I would never do anything of the
sort."

	"Hush, can't you see I'm thinking?"  Lacey chastised.

	I heard a tint of laughter in Al's voice.  "Sorry couldn't see
from all the smoke."

	Lacey, clueless as ever said, "What did you do that he thinks
you did?"  She moved a bishop.

 	"Nothing, don't worry about it."  I turned to Al.  "Don't
think about it."  

	He nodded understanding then whispered "Take the queen."

	Now that she had made her move, she was paying more attention. 
"He's not helping you is he?"

	"Oh no, he would never do anything of the sort."

	I saw a better opportunity and moved a knight into position to
strike the King.  This move and our conversation removed my
thoughts from Heremon momentarily so that when he reentered the
room I was fully engrossed in the game.  I did notice him walk
past and I had to chuckle.

	"Something funny?"  He hissed.

	It wasn't hard to come up with an answer.  "I'm gonna win."

	"Oh are you?"  He slithered past Lacey and moved her queen. 
"Check."

	"Told you to take the queen."  Al muttered behind me.

	It took me a moment to find exactly how that could be.  Not
that it was hard to find, I was just so upset at him.  It took
me another moment to realize that I could easily take the queen
now but at the expense of putting my rook at risk and loosing my
advantage to check him.  Finally I took the risky move and used
my knight to take out his queen.

	A little peeved at this he pushed Lacey from her seat and
cockily moved a bishop in for the kill of my rook.  Out of
desperation I moved my rook right next to his king.

	"That wasn't very smart."  He cackled then took the rook.

	My king was still in danger.  It was him or me, him or...  One
of my little pawns had never been moved, I was using him to
protect my King and now he was only two blocks from checking and
mating Heremon's King.  Heremon looked up into my eyes and I
stuck my tongue out at him as I reached for my pawn.  I
nonchalantly knocked his king over with it.  "I win."

	The board flew off the table.  "You cheated."

	"Did not."

	"That last move was completely illegal."  

	I really wasn't read up on the game enough to know whether it
was or not.  So I replied, "Was not."  

	"All your witty comebacks and sarcasm has dwindled to this? 
You sad... Pitiful..."  He stopped a moment and gripped his
lower abdomen.  I swear he really did turn a shade of green. 
"It was you!"  

	I repeated.  "I win."  I stepped back as he was about to lunge.
 Instead he ran for the door.  Laughter followed him.  I was
patted on the back by a couple people and Lacey for once was
stunned into silence.  Despite my win I made sure I wasn't
around to bask in the glory of it.

	

	Keir stood in the doorway looking very menacing.  He looked
rather upset with me and I really didn't want to deal with it
right now.  So I swiveled my chair around to turn my back on
him.  I stuck my nose deeper into the book I had been reading. 
It only took half a second for him to come roaring in front of
me.  "Do not turn your back on me."  Stupidly I did it again,
swinging the chair around 180 degrees.  He turned it right back
around again and then we were nose to nose.  "You insolent cow,
I have had enough of your insubordination."

	"And I've had enough of your presumptuousness.  Do you think
yourself so superior because you're stronger than I?  Then hit
me and show me that supercilious muscle Mr. High and Mighty!"  I
was testing him.  Would he really hit me when challenged?  What
could I do to prove to him I wasn't just a minion, that I could
be equal to him without being a vampire?  After all hadn't I
just proved that to Heremon?

	His jaw cracked as he mashed his teeth.  "You are nothing but a
spoiled child.  As such you require discipline.  We have tried
many different things but nothing has worked.  We are now forced
to take away the one thing you value most until you can prove to
us that you have earned it.  Beginning now you will be
supervised in everything you do.  You will report to me at the
end of every day.  You will not interact with anyone unless I
have approved it.  Your thoughts will be monitored at all times
and any misguided thoughts will be punished accordingly.  Do you
understand this?"

	I gaped dumbfounded.  I had no idea what to say.  I wanted to
argue, but as soon as I did I knew I'd be reprimanded.  There
were a few things on my mind.  First, my life really was over
now that my freedom was being taken from me.  Second, he would
not allow me to see Bram again, I knew this, and that he was
jealous of my feeling for Bram.  Wait, Kama claimed that no
vampire could have someone be their own slave.  "How can I be
your personal slave?  Aren't there rules against this?"

	"You question me?!  The King has approved this, thus it must be
so."

	What was I to do?  I couldn't refuse him, but I couldn't agree
to his terms either.  I needed help.   I tried to contact Bram,
to touch his mind.  I couldn't concentrate on that, I was too
upset.  Besides Keir would probably block me.  

	One last ditch effort, besides I couldn't just give up.  "No."

	Okay, mistake.

	He grabbed me by my hair and ripped me from my seat.  "Do NOT
disobey me."  He dragged me kicking and screaming all the way to
his room.



	I laid in bed with Keir that first day after I had calmed down.
 I couldn't sleep, not a wink.  I couldn't get my mind off
Heremon first the look on his face as he realized I was behind
his digestive woes and then that sword at his neck.  How long
ago was that?  Yet it only seemed like yesterday.  I wouldn't be
in this mess had I killed him.  

	Just think, one little swipe and I could have gotten rid of the
irritating pest.  Of course that would be committing cold
blooded murder.  Maybe it would have been self defense, but
still I couldn't imagine killing a soul.  No matter how good it
would have felt.  Besides humiliation is so much better.  I'm
actually glad I lived long enough to see that look on his face
when he realized I bested him.

	I rolled over trying to get comfortable and found myself
leaning into Keir.  His large ebony chest glared in the candle
light.  Had I liked this man I might have not fought myself from
rubbing my hand over those muscular pectorals.  His large biceps
rippled and then curved around my neck, as I was laying on his
arm.  He wrapped me up bringing me into a hug against his warm
body.  "Why aren't you asleep?"  He asked, as if he needed to.

	"What's the real reason you have me here Keir?  It can't be
because I played a trick on Heremon."  I thought back to what
had happened recently.  "Are you upset that I've been avoiding
you?"  There was no answer and no change in body language. 
"It's been too long since my last suicide attempt."  Then a
thought struck me.  Each of these events could have easily been
circumvented with the reading of my thoughts.  What they
couldn't stop was someone with outside influence.  "Or was it
Bram?"  At the mention of the name all the muscles in Keir's
body tightened and I found myself locked in a vise grip.  It
didn't stop me.  I had to know the truth.  "I'm getting too
close to him aren't I?"

	"I told you earlier, you need discipline."

	"Yes, I know, but what triggered that decision?"

	"That is not your concern."

	"How can I prevent it from happening again if I don't know what
it was that I did wrong?"

	I rose and fell with the deep breath that he took.  "It was all
those combined together.  You knew what you did was wrong.  Yet
you did nothing to correct any of them at that time.  That is
why you are here."

	"Oh and I thought I was just here to be your love slave."  I
knew I had done it again, perhaps the thing I should learn first
is to keep my mouth shut around him.

	"Go to sleep."  He forced his way into my mind to coerce it to
sleep.  Not wanting to bring on his wrath, I did not fight him.