Leaving the Light By: Christine Schnell

Chapter 39



	"File this under things requiring a stomach pump."

	"I know how you feel, I doubt I could handle the
responsibility."

	"Responsibility?  Bram this is just madness."

	"I'm sorry you feel that way."

	"Okay, since it's my 'responsibility' then I need to know about
the rest of it?" 

	"I do not think it would be prudent to tell you at this time."

	Mistress Kama to my surprise leaned forward.  She began to
speak but only managed to get out "He" before she bent over with
a blood curdling scream.  Now I was the one comforting her.  I
was already there so I took her in my arms.  Her eyes clouded
over and she began shaking.  She bit her tongue and a slight
amount of blood flowed out of her mouth.

	"Stop!"  I cried.  I only hoped the King could hear my plea.  I
felt her muscles convulsing.  Her legs kicked out against the
wall.  "Please stop.  I don't care about the stupid prophecy."

	After a few more shivers she went limp in my arms.  I looked to
Bram pleading him to help me.  We both shuffled her around so
she'd be lying comfortably on the bed.  She was still alive but
unconscious.

	"Why did he do that?"  I asked Bram.  "He didn't need to punish
her like that.  He could have just made her silent."

	"I think he was making a point."

	"Yeah.  I got it."  I flattened Kama's curls away from her
sweaty forehead.  "How can I ever have been expected to kill
someone that has this kind of power?"  I shook my head.  	"It's
silly, why make me a vampire?  It just makes no sense.  I'm
already fighting him, making me a vampire will only give me more
strength."

	"We've already covered this."

	"No, not really you haven't given me very good answers."

	Bram sighed.  "He's working on the principle of keeping his
enemies close."  

	"What sense does that make?  I'm not a threat to him as a
slave.  I'd only have more reason to hate him if he made me a
vampire.  Certainly he'd be better off just killing me."

	"Probably because he wasn't successful at the last few
attempts."   He had the air of someone catching himself at
saying the wrong thing and trying to make up for it.  "At you
killing yourself."

	"Doesn't he get that I hate him and will not like him any more
after this?"

	"I'm going to let you in on a little secret; you'll probably
think a little differently after you have vampire blood running
through your veins."

	"Impossible.  What makes you say that."

	"Before I was taken in by them, I too was the King's mortal
enemy."

	Kama had come to while I wasn't watching and spoke weakly. 
"The blood is stronger than your hatred, dear.  You'd have no
choice but to be loyal."  What kind of answer was that?

	"No."  I was in denial.  I couldn't believe gaining their blood
could change the way I've felt for the past three years.  "Look,
I may hate him, but I can't kill him we just saw that, so what
would be the difference if I were human or vampire?"  Bram
hesitated.  I could feel he was blocking me from something. 
"Bram, what is it?"

	"Let's just say it's your destiny."

	"Prophecy, destiny, I can't kill the King, he has too much
power.  Besides I don't believe in destiny."

	"Then you don't believe in soul mates?"

	"All right, all right, I don't believe there is one set course
that we must follow with no alternatives.  Yes, a person can
have a soul mate but they might not get together."

	"There you see this is all for the best.  We are together and
can be happy."

	"You selfish son of a bitch."  I pushed him away from me.

	"What?"

	"You heard me.  You don't care about my destiny as long as you
are happy."

	"Toni, don't judge him on this."  Kama tried to protect him but
it just wouldn't work.

	"Oh and don't even try to tell me that you didn't know anything
about this.  All this time you've been positioning yourself
haven't you?  You all probably have a bet going on as to who's
going to make me into a vampire."  

	"That's not true."  Bram said sternly.

	"Yeah?  Then why won't she tell me the real reason she killed
Lowell?"

	"Because it has nothing to do with this."  She snapped.

	"Yes it does."  I snapped equally as hard.  "It's a matter of
trust.  I like you, you've helped me discover things about
myself and for some odd reason you care about me.  But you lie
to me all the time.  How am I supposed to believe you want to
help me and not just put yourself in line to be queen?"

	Bram shook his head.  He knew I didn't understand.  "She hasn't
done anything to hurt you.  I trust her so you should too."

	"God Damn you Bram.  I trusted you.  Over and over for lord
knows what reason I fall in love with you then something is
revealed that makes you a horrible monster.  How am I to trust
either of you?  For all I know this prophecy thing can be a
total scam and you'll have a big laugh when it's done."

	"You're wrong.  We're trying to help."  Kama protested.

	"Yourselves."  I had dug myself into a hole and wasn't sure how
to get out.  I wanted to believe they weren't lying to me, but I
didn't want to believe their words.  "Prove to me what you're
saying is true."

	They exchanged glances and made me believe they would not
answer me.  Then I was hit with a memory.  No, not a memory.  I
had never experienced this.

	I was in the throne room.  I was sitting on the throne I looked
at my hands and body.  They were covered in jewels and fancy
furs.  I was Queen.  

	No, that's not right.  My hands were not mine they were
stubbier and not well manicured.  It wasn't until I saw her...
me coming that I realized I was seeing this through the King's
eyes.  It was surreal seeing myself walk towards me blood
splattered across her face and arms.  The sword in her hand was
dripping the fluid of death.  "What do you want here?"  His
voice came involuntarily through my mouth.

	"Your death."  I told the King in my other body.  I'm not sure
what happened next, the world turned blurry and the red faced
devil herself was standing over me.  I felt my life's energy
slowly ebbing.  It was true.

	There was a pain at my wrist and the world came into instant
focus.  I looked down to see Miss Kama snacking on my arm.  At
some point I had fallen onto the bed and propped up on the wall.
 I leaned my head back against the wall and relaxed trying to
slow my heart beat.  

	There was more movement on the bed and something wet and cold
touched my lips.  Bram had placed a grape there.  "You must feed
as well."  I noticed Bram's nose flare and he glanced longingly
down at Kama.  To distract him, I took the proffered fruit
brushing the tips of his fingers with my lips.  All had been
forgiven.

	Kama finished up.  She sat properly now and looked much better
than she had a few minutes before.  I watched Kama and realized
just moments ago she had her own blood flowing down her chin. 
Could it have mixed with my own?  I hadn't noticed if she had
cleaned it off before she bit me.  I didn't feel any different
other than a little light headed from the loss of blood.  Then
Bram's last words hit me and I began to panic.

	Bram shoved another grape in my mouth grabbing my attention. 
"You're not a vampire yet."

	"Okay, so when and how am I to 'become' a vampire."

	"You already know the how."  Except he knew I meant who and
wouldn't tell me.  "The when is when the King decides.  It could
be tomorrow, it could be two years from now."

	"So he could wait and see if I get myself killed in the near
future."

	Bram said, "Perhaps, but at least you're alive right now."

	"Really?  Is that really a good thing?"  He started to say yes.
 "Why is it good?  I'm trapped here forced to do the vampires'
bidding.  Is that really living?"  I knew he took offense to
this but he also knew I wasn't meaning him.  I never included
him when I talked about the vampires.

	"What freedom have you lost?  You've been given plenty of
leeway to pursue your own interest."

	"Oh right."

	"Investigating Lowell's death, writing your novel, assembling
the dog, free use of the computer room."

	"How is that being allowed freedom?"  Bram produced something
from his pocket I didn't expect to ever see again; the key to
the computer room.  

	He cocked an eyebrow with that silly smirk of his.  "Keir gave
it to me before he left."

	"Liar."  I knew perfectly well that Bram had searched Keir's
pockets while he was unconscious.  Bram placed the key in my
hand and closed his hand over mine.  He leaned in and touched
his lips to mine. 

	When he pulled away I asked, "What is it with Keir?" 

	"He's not all bad." 

	"I know but sometimes he's a real pain and others..." 

	"He can be kind of cute, can't he?" 

	"Ew!  Bram!"   

	"Keir just doesn't know how to handle you darling."  Kama
reached across us to the fruit bowl.

	"Handle me?"

	With a cherry half way in her mouth she backtracked.  "To treat
you as you deserve."

	"Uh, huh."  Bram shoved another grape in my mouth to keep me
from becoming upset with Miss Kama again.  I took a deep breath
and let it all slide by me.  It looked as if I'd be living with
these people for quite some time and thus had to learn to live
with their idiosyncrasies.

***

	After quite some time, I went back to the slave court with
mixed feelings.  I was elated after being with Bram again and I
was completely depressed knowing I was expected to kill the
King. 

	All of this was nothing to how I felt when I saw the gurney
being wheeled out of the infirmary with something or rather some
one covered up, lifeless on top.  I rushed over to those pushing
it.  "What's going on?"

	"We're taking him to the burners."

	"Him who?"

	The other lifted the sheet and my stomach did a flip flop. 
Paul's pale lifeless face stared up at the ceiling.  "Who?  How?"

	"Who do you think?"  A disdainful Doc Wendel said from just
inside the infirmary.

	"Not Bram!  I was with him all night."  Damn, I probably
shouldn't have admitted that.

	"No, it was the King.  From what I could tell he is extremely
upset.  Now, we know why."

	"He killed Paul because of me?"  I felt faint and grabbed the
edge of the gurney.

	"I don't know for certain, but it looks that way."

	"No!"  I pushed past the gurney, past him and past all those
who tried to stop me.  I found the closet locked.  The computer
room was too far.  In the gym I found an empty toilet stall
grabbed hold of it and emptied the contents of my stomach.  Gee,
I never realized before how much vomiting I did do in those
days.  It was due to my weak stomach and even weaker mind.  I
found it hard to handle news like the prophecy and Paul's death
all at once.

	I stayed in that stall for hours.  No one tried to lure me out
and I had no wish to face anyone.  Even if Doc Wendel didn't
tell anyone, I'm sure they would all guess who was at fault for
this death.  They all heard Heremon's accusation of my
conspiring with Paul.  They all knew my reputation.  No doubt
they would learn Bram had defied the King's order to not be with
me.  Now I was responsible for two death's here.  

	Despite what Keir would do when he found out I grabbed a paper
towel, an eyeliner pencil and started making a list far
different from that Kama had made me write.  This was a list of
names and dates.  It was my personal memorial to those slaves
who have died here and who had killed them.  It was far from
complete, but I hoped others would help fill in the gaps.  At
the moment I could only think of a few names, Nikki, Frank,
Lowell, Denise, Mona, and Paul.  As best I could I taped it
outside the rest rooms and left it for others to see.  Somehow
this made me feel better.

	On my way out I saw Al pedaling away on an exercise bike.  I
placed my hand on his back.  "So are you still going to deny
that they think I'm special?"  He let out a little gasp of air. 
I immediately let go.  "Is that where they...?"  Al looked away
from me.  "God, Al, I'm so sorry.  I didn't intend for you- "  

	"It's not your fault Kiddo."  He finally spoke to me.  "It's
just some of us suffered, still suffer, more than others."

	"Keir?"  

	He nodded.  "He blames me for inciting you to try and escape."

	"But you didn't.  Keir must know that."

	"Just because someone knows something, doesn't mean that's what
they are willing to believe."

	"Yeah, I guess so."  I thought back to my recent argument with
Bram.

	"That's not why you sought me out though."

	"No."  Somehow the reason I sought him out didn't seem that
important anymore.

	"Go ahead."

	"Well, it's about the prophecy."

	"Oh?"

	"Yeah, Bram finally revealed it to me.  He says I'm the one it
refers to.  You knew didn't you?"

	"I had a good idea Kiddo."

	"Why didn't you tell me?"

	"You know the answer to that."

	"Yeah, but you could have at least told me that's why they were
singling me out way back when."

	"They didn't want you to know.  They thought you'd use it to
your advantage.  They wanted you on their good side for obvious
reasons."

	"Now it's all messed up.  For me and them.  Is that it?"

	"More or less.  King would still like you to be on his side. 
Guess he figured it was better you find out this way and not on
your own."   

	"Bottom line, he doesn't want me to kill him and will do
anything to prevent me from doing it?"

	"Yeah."

	"Why do you think he doesn't just kill me?"

	"I think he's tired of running."

	"That's just so weird.  Bram said something similar.  I can't
imagine anyone being afraid of me."

	"Maybe not of you, but of what you represent.  His death."

	"You don't think I'll really kill him do you?"

	"Did you think you could kill Mackenzie?"

	God, I had all but forgotten about that.  I nearly became sick
(again!) at the thought.  Three!  That was three people's death
I had been responsible for, directly or indirectly.  I had
gotten upset At Bram for killing, and all the time I had been a
hypocrite about it.  I didn't mean to kill him, but the truth
was it was either him or me.  Too bad it hadn't been me.  "That
was an accident."  

	"Exactly.  One never knows, do they?"

	I sighed.  The wise old man strikes again.  "Do you understand
what the prophecy means?  The part about what was started..."  I
tried pulling the words out of my memory but they wouldn't come.

	"No, but there's more to the prophecy than what they would tell
you.  You will become Queen, and once you are Queen you will set
the slaves free.  You'll establish a new way of life in a new
place for the vampires, and you'll rule greatly for centuries."

	"Who pulled that out of their hat?"  What a load of hooey.  It
sounded more like wishful thinking to me.  If it was really the
rest of the prophecy, why wasn't Al struck down like Kama?  The
peculiar thing was; I hadn't told him they planned to make me a
vampire!  

	I wasn't willing to believe that I would even allow myself to
become a vampire let alone lead them through some great new era.
 "I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you.  There's no way in
hell that I'm going to become a vampire let alone the friggen
Queen.  I don't know if you've noticed or not, but I'm trying to
just get along, I couldn't care less about the slaves in
general."

	"Yeah, then why were you sorry for me being in pain?"

	"That's different Al."

	He shook his head.  "You will care, I'm sure of it, and I know
you will set me free."

	"Not anytime soon Al, that I'M sure of."  Before Al could
respond, I noticed something wrong at the rest rooms.  My paper
had disappeared.  "Excuse me."  I left him and went to rewrite
the list.  I wasn't going to let them be forgotten that easily.

***

	I shook my head so hard it could have flown off, but the idea
still wasn't being shaken out.  I kept flashing back to being
alone in Keir's room forced to eat off the floor.  Hanging in a
dark place while my blood dripped slowly from my body into a
bag.  Sitting hopelessly in a small cell waiting for my fate to
arrive and take me back to this prison.  I was not a savior.  I
was a small insignificant person with no special abilities
whatsoever.  

	It was all so ridiculous.  I wish I could learn the rest of the
real prophecy.  It might tell me how to kill the King.  Not that
I wanted to mind you, but why else would the King hide it from
me?  Not that it would make sense if I did learn it.  After all,
the first part still confused me.  Hell, I couldn't even
remember the exact wording.  I think the vampires had something
to do with that.  I knew what it meant and that was all I think
I was meant to know.

	There was no point to it.  I certainly didn't want to do
anything to risk me being separated from Bram again.  Though as
I looked at the computer screen I wondered if I wasn't doing
just that.  I was printing up many copies of my list of those
who had died in slavery here.  I had remembered that like the
list on the rest room door I had started something similar some
time ago.  This was more efficient than writing on paper towels.
 Now, no matter how many times they tore them down I'd have
another ready to replace it.  I didn't really see what harm it
was doing.  It was just a reminder to everyone here that we were
only mortal.  

	Obviously I had hopes that once more people were able to see it
the idea might catch on.  Perhaps more names would be added to
the list but I had no intention to do more than this.  I knew it
wouldn't be prudent to put up more than one of these at a time,
after all I wasn't trying to incite anyone to action, just doing
a little indirect information gathering.

	It was the middle of the day and I figured I wouldn't have much
trouble replacing the paper towel version.  Alas I wouldn't find
out just yet.  The door was open and I could have missed anyone
entering.  In fact I had.  "Intriguing is it not?"

	I swiveled in my chair and stared wide eyed at the man who
called himself Velren.  The long hair cascading over his
shoulders clashed with the freshly pressed casual business
outfit he wore.  I was taken aback by this as much as his sudden
appearance.  "What?"

	"The persistence of nature."

	I emulated the Master of All Things and blinked at him.  It was
the only response that seemed appropriate.  I tried to collect
myself.  He was the reason I had tried to escape.  Had I not
listened to him I wouldn't have tried to escape and thus be
recaptured and tortured.  Alas this was all I could think to ask
him, "I thought you said you would help me escape?"

	"I did, it was up to you to make that escape permanent."

	He was right.  His vile only helped me get past the guards.  I
was the one stupid enough to trust in the sheriff.  "Why didn't
you help me after that?"

	"I presumed too much of you."

	I rubbed my eyes when I looked up again he was still there. 
"Okay then.  What do you want now?"

	"To give you a second chance."

	"At what?  Escape?"

	"At your true path."

	"I don't like riddle's Velren.  Try plain English."

	"Well then you will have to learn to, as I love to speak in
them, and it's a great way to force you to think for yourself. 
I am offering a window of opportunity between now and the
future."

	"Right and this is like the last time you 'helped?'"

	"My offering is only as good as your willingness to receive it."

	"Who are you?  My fairy godfather?"  I asked with wonder.

	"A person of your mind would call me a sorcerer.  After all, is
that not what you said of me?  I performed magic?  That is not
exactly an exact interpretation.  You might also comprehend if I
told you I was not of this world."

	"An alien?"

	"Of sorts."

	"Yeah, more likely you're a figment of my imagination.  Of
course I serve Vampires so I guess it's not much of stretch."

	"Yes, the vampires are holding you back."

	"Why are you doing this?  What do you have to gain?"

	He smiled and before my eyes started to fade.  In a moment he
was no longer there.  Had I not seen it I wouldn't believe it. 
Yet I still didn't.  I didn't have a chance to ask him how he
would help me this time.

	"Antoniette!"  I heard my name called from down the hall.  I
switched off the monitor and grabbed the circuit board I was
supposed to be working on.  "Antoniette Aloise."  Earl appeared
in the doorway panting.  "There you are."

	"Can I help you?"  My heart pounded first from the shock of
seeing Velren and now this.

	"They're calling for you in the court."

	"Me?  Why?"

	"Don't know."  He tried to catch his breath.  "The King-" I was
on my feet.  If the King was calling I wasn't about to defy him.
 As I looked back into the room I realized it was all just part
of my imagination.  If it wasn't, the King or someone else was
trying to trick me into escaping again.  No doubt somebody
didn't want me to fulfill the prophecy.  Was this why he was
calling me?  I was already passing Earl as he finished.  "He's
doing some sort of role call."  

	This was strange.  If I was in trouble for this list the King
wouldn't be doing a role call.  What other reason would he be
calling me specifically?  They had never done anything like this
in all the time I had been there.  Normally assignments were
given individually and by other slaves.  This had to be
something very critical.  At least by the sound of it, I wasn't
the only one being singled out.  

	I turned through the hallways with Earl on my heels and came to
a stop in the standing room only court.  I tried peering around
and over heads to no use.  I wanted to stop and ask what was
happening but didn't dare.  Instead I excused myself past
several people before I started to hear the muttering of my name
as the way became clear.  

	"Nathan Greco."  The King called and other muttering came from
the other side of the room.  Just as I emerged, Nate slid past
the front line.  There was a huge circle of people with a large
clearing between them and the King.  There were several vampires
flanking the King.  Bram was not among them.  I eyed Nate
quickly he returned the same bewildered look.  

	"Aloise.  You are late.  Follow them."  Nate had already headed
for the door behind the King that he was pointing me to now.  I
didn't look at him.  I just did as I was told.

***

	There were four other slaves waiting in an empty room not far
from the court.  Shelly monitored the door and pointed a
different slave into the room about a half minute apart. 
Questions were repeated with each new entrant but none were
answered.  I wound up standing silently beside Nate at the back
of the room.  Finally after there were about two dozen of us,
the King followed the last person inside.  He said two words
before turning and leaving.  "Follow me."

	The King lead us through a maze of hallways and several times
looped us around through the same halls.  As I recognized the
area I was not fooled by this trick.  I had walked through here
once before while I was escaping.  However, there was one point
that we took a right I distinctly remember taking a left there. 
It's where I gassed the second set of vampires.  Now we wandered
further for at least ten more minutes, up one hall and down
another.  Obviously he was taking us to the exit and was trying
to get us lost at the same time.  He was successful.

	I was bewildered.  Why would he take us out?  If he was doing
it to be rid of us then why try to make us lose our way?  No,
there was no possible way he was setting us free.  As we moved
on, this became evident.  For most of that time the corridors
were empty.  Gradually we passed more and more vampires.  Each
was alert and looked about to pounce, but not on us.  Perhaps I
had been wrong and they always had guards around the exits.

	We came to a halt before a seemingly dead end.  No one spoke. 
Myself, I had my eyes glued on the man at the end of the hall. 
Keir stood there arm's crossed and looking very deadly.  

	I hadn't noticed until just then that the air was different
here.  It was musty, almost stale.  I was sure we were almost at
the surface, but I didn't remember going up anywhere.  Then the
end wall turned out to be a door and slid upwards the King
gestured for us to go through it.  Meanwhile, as each person
passed, Keir leaned down picked up something from a large box
next to him and handed it to each person.  They then disappeared
up a short flight of stairs.  There were only several people in
front of me when I could get a clear view.  He was handing them
weapons.  What had I gotten myself into?

	Finally I reached Keir and unwillingly took the offered gun. 
"What's this for?"

	Keir growled, "Your protection as well as ours."

	"You trust me that much?"

	"Well it can't be used against one of us."  He laughed.

	"How do you know I won't use it against myself?"  It didn't
take but half a second for me to answer the question in my own
head "Why idiot?"  No brainer, I had no wish to die right now.

	Before I started up the stairs the King stopped me.  "Miss
Aloise, do not disappoint me."

	He released me and as I took each step up the stairs I pondered
those words.  Mixed with the new information about the prophecy
and now the gun, what was I supposed to think?  I'm sure
disappointing him would include his death.  So this probably
wasn't the time to fulfill the prophecy.  On the other hand,
what the heck was I supposed to be doing with this gun?

	I emerged into what seemed to be the library of a very old
building.  The shelves had long been emptied of their original
content and now only housed the webs of spiders and other
creatures.  The windows hadn't been opened in years. 
Surprisingly they were not in disrepair.  The lights too seemed
to be in working order.  The room had a brown glow that came
mostly from the deep maroon light of the sunrise or sunset
coming in the dusty windows.  This was obviously the building Al
had told me about and I had seen from the town.  

	The others looked around in wonder and were asking more
questions about the weapons.  Some needed instruction on how to
use them.  I was certainly one of those, as this one was some
kind of shotgun, nothing like the pistol I found in the closet. 
However, I had no interest in knowing how to use it and I had no
plans to.

	The room quieted again as the King's head appeared in the
trapdoor.  Suddenly I wondered how much of what Keir said was
true.  Could these weapons be used against the vampires?  The
King was in a vulnerable position right now.  If we all opened
fire at once...

	No, that was stupid, every vampire in the complex would be upon
us in minutes.  I let the gun fall to my side as the King
stepped before us.

	"You should feel privileged to be the chosen few.  Each of you
will have the opportunity to prove your worth to us and as human
beings.  You can show me my trust is well place by using those
weapons against our enemies.  Those enemies will show themselves
shortly after daybreak.  You are to protect us at all costs. 
Mr. Marin will be in the lead."  With that he disappeared down
the stairs.  We all stared at Gary.

	"Okay, follow me."  Gary lead us into what appeared to be the
foyer of the building and started divvying out positions.  The
foyer was huge.  It was a large three story room empty save for
a few couches and side tables by the walls and pedestals that
used to hold plants or something next to the stairs.  The paper
on the walls was peeling, cobwebs drooped from the chandelier
and the wood handrail looked as if it were about to fall apart. 
It looked like something out of an old horror movie.

	There it was, the front door with full rising sunlight beyond. 
I looked around me no one was watching me.  I saw a window of
opportunity.  I could run out the front door and into the
forest.  I could keep running forever.  Oh God.  Is that what
Velren meant?  Did he help me get to this point?  Or would he
help me once I was out the front door?

	No, not after last time.  Not after I just got Bram back.  No,
I wasn't willing to risk it again.

	I turned my back on the door and walked up the stairs.  I was
to look out a window to the south towards the town and warn of
any approach.  I couldn't see a thing.  It's not because the
windows were dirty my eyes were not adjusting too well to the
bright light.  As if knowing what I was thinking, I was handed a
pair of sunglasses by one of the slaves.  I put them on and
looked out the brown window.  Even through the dust I saw how
close to the outside I was, how close to freedom.  The brown
world beyond was the most beautiful thing I had seen in a long
time.

	Why?  What good would a couple dozen people who, like me, had
probably never even fired a gun do against a small army of
vampire hunters?  It seemed silly, the vampires could easily
fight off these invaders couldn't they?  You kill one and
another shows up.  Hmm... I was thinking in terms of vampires
but what if the same were true for these hunters?  Even if the
vampires killed every one would others come looking for them?

	What if there were a way to get rid of the hunters for good? 
Wouldn't the vampires sacrifice anything to not be bothered
again and again.  After all they like their small little world
here to go undisturbed.  So how would you get rid of hunters for
good at any cost?  

	Simple, prove to them that you do not exist.  How does one
prove that?  Again simple, you make them feel like shit because
they just killed a bunch of humans they thought were vampires.  

	The King did not want us here to protect him.  He didn't need
that.  He put us here like kamikaze pilots to distract the
enemy.  The hunters would come in guns blazing and not ask any
questions until we stopped firing back or at least that's what
I'm sure the King hoped.

	What if they didn't?  Nah, the King would probably take control
of them and ...  Wait if the King could take control of them
like that why wouldn't he just put it into their head no one
were here and have them never even enter the door?

	Unless he couldn't.

	So what are we left with?  A bunch of scared humans who will
die for their vampires by some gun crazy hunters.  I certainly
didn't want to die.  I know, I know, I can't seem to make up my
mind.

	I was getting bored.  The scene outside hadn't changed in
hours.  Even with sunglasses it was difficult to see in this mid
day sunshine.  The trees in the distance were all brown green
and hardly contrasted the brown of the ground.  I squinted
trying to see into town.  There wasn't much movement certainly
there weren't caravans of army like invaders.

	A cry came from the other side of the room.  "They're coming." 
I gestured for Norma to take my position at the window and ran
to see.  How did they do it?  How did I miss them leaving the
town?  Unless they left before dawn or had camped out in the
forest.  Damn, the vampires should have told us which way they
were coming from.  From this angle they would not come in the
front door, that is if there were any other doors that weren't
blocked.  We were all in the wrong position for this.  We were
about to be slaughtered.

	"Toni don't leave your position!"  Gary rushed to try to block
me.  Yeah, like I ever followed his orders before.  I forced my
way past him and looked out this third story window to see what
looked like only six men approximately half a mile away.  We
certainly out numbered them but did we out gun them?  I doubted
it.  I thought I could make out large black metal things hanging
at their sides, probably military assault rifles.  Yet they
didn't hold them ready.  As they approached they didn't even
lift them.

	Perhaps they weren't expecting resistance after all.  Maybe
they were expecting to find vampires sleeping in coffins.  If
they weren't going to come in expecting a fight then maybe we
still had a chance.

	There was no way we could tell them we were just a group of
humans taken slaves by vampires.  They'd kill us knowing we'd
protect our keepers.  No, we needed another plan and quickly.

	I searched and searched my brain while they got closer step by
step.  Luckily they hadn't noticed us looking out the window at
them.  I needed a way for them to know we're human and not
vampires.  Human...?  Vampire...?  Gary pulled at my arm.  "Get
back to your position, they're almost here."

	"No."  I said softly then looked at his pale face.  The light
made it seem more so.  Pale like an outsider would expect a
vampire's to be.  "Gary, everyone, I have an idea.  We have to
act now.  Hide your weapons, put them down the hatch where they
won't be found."

	Cries of "Are you crazy" and "That's suicidal." floated up at
me.

	"Keeping those weapons is suicidal.  If those men see them in
your hands the first thing they'll do is open fire.  Do it or
we'll all die.  Those people out there think we're the vampires.
 The vampires want them to.  The vampires think if we fight the
hunters and the hunters think they killed all the vampires, the
hunters would leave the real vampires alone.  But I have an
idea, one that won't get us all killed."  I leaned over the rail
pleading with them.  "We mustn't pose a threat to them.  In fact
we must act as if we didn't know they were coming when they come
in."

	"What are you babbling about?"  Gary crossed his arms around
his rifle.  I glanced out the window they were no more than five
minutes away.  

	"We have to pretend we're vampires."

	"Oh right, they won't shoot us if we're vampires"

	"No, you don't get it.  My friend used to tell me about this
thing her brother did.  It was a role playing game."

	"A what?"

	"Like 'Dungeons and Dragons'?" Julion asked.

	"Yeah, but it was about vampires."  Still only blank stares. 
"Don't you see, we can pretend were playing this game.  We are
the vampires they think are living here.  They'll have no choice
but to admit we're only human and leave us alone."

	"I say we try it." Raquel called from below.

	"What have we got to lose?"  Nate agreed.

	"Our lives."  Hank countered.

	"That would happen anyway, at least this way we have a small
chance."  I argued.

	People started muttering until Gary asked, "Okay what do we
do?" 

	I ran down the stairs giving orders.  "Hide the guns, get away
from the windows.  Everyone look relaxed, we're supposed to be
having a good time."  I handed my weapon gleefully to Cindy who
was collecting them then she ran off and hid them in the trap
door.  In a way it surprised me that we weren't being stopped by
the vampires.  I was grateful for it though.  It showed they
were putting their trust in me.  I gestured to two people over
in the corner.  "You and you get on the couch, one of you
pretend you're biting the other.  Gary you, Bea and Julion act
like you're in a deep conversation, you'll be like the leaders. 
Joshua, get a group together and head towards those on the top
floor like you're going to fight them."  

	Cindy came back with a large black bundle in her arms.  "They
gave me these."

	"Perfect.  Please hand them out to everyone playing a vampire."
 As dark shirts went over heads and velvet cloaks around
shoulders the room seemed to get darker or was that just the
lights being dimmed?

	People started moving.  Those whom I hadn't already instructed
were starting to improvise.  Over the activity I called out to
them, "If anyone asks, we pay to use the space, we're not
squatters.  For the most part tell them the truth.  If they ask
how long you've been here, tell them how many years you've been
a slave.  That'll probably make it safe to give your real name,
but try not to if you can help it."  I grabbed a handful of
paper and started scribbling names and numbers down.  I had just
finished and was instructing some to pretend to spy on Gary's
meeting when the doors to a back room burst open. 

	We were so thoroughly engrossed in the preparation that the
shock was genuine.  Douglas and Meg were the closest and playing
the roles of vampires even to an extent I didn't mean for them;
they pretended to attack the attackers.  I saw this and sprinted
across the room.  The hunters had raised their weapons but
luckily hadn't fired a shot before I could yell, "No!  Guys
wait, this isn't part of the story."  I feared something like
this could happen luckily for me no one got hurt.   

	The tension I felt between them like thick ropes was only
slightly loosened by the confusion on both sides.  My guy's were
only acting though, and doing a damn fine job at it too.  Meg
started mumbling something about the hunters being dressed for
the part.  Douglas whispered to Meg that if it wasn't part of
the story how did they get in.  I waved them off a little as I
turned to the hunters.

	When positioning people, I made a point to put some of them in
direct sunlight and I tried to step into a beam myself at that
moment.  If nothing else that would disperse one myth of
vampires, or prove to them we were human.  The way one of them
was watching me I'd say the latter.  He stepped forward to get
closer to me.  He stuck his gun near my gut.  I believe he was
the leader.  Right before I saw him about to speak, I quipped,
"What the hell are you doing?!"

	"We are investigating the report of a vampire coven in this
building."  I gave them a sideways glance "Oookay?"  I sounded
as if I thought they didn't know what they were talking about. 
"Are you guys here for the LARP?"

	"The what?"

	"The Live Action Role Playing."

	The leader now squinted his eyes at me as if I were the crazy
one.

	Because he obviously didn't understand, I excitedly told him
about our group as if it was my life.  "Were a group of people
who love dark tales.  So we get together here and enact our own.
 We become the creatures of the night.  Most of us live here
too."

	He surveyed the group.  They watched him as if he had crashed
their party.  "Prove it."  He raised the gun so that it pointed
between my eyes.

	I could see people move in my periphery vision but they stopped
when the other hunters raised their weapons.  I looked into the
barrel of the gun pointed at me as if it was the first time.

	"Oh my god, is that real?"

	"What do you think?"  He spoke to the men behind him.  "Get
blood samples." 

	A bulky man, or was that just armor, pulled out a box from his
pack and deliberately set it down and put together a syringe.  I
shuffled on my feet at this.  I wasn't acting.  After my last
experience I had even more reason to fear needles.

	The big guy came at me with the syringe and I actually started
to freak out.  My hands shook and my knees became weak.  No
doubt the leader became skeptical and thought I feared them
testing my blood and not the needle itself.  So I explained to
him in a stuttering voice.  "I d -d-don't li-like need-dles."  A
couple of the slaves nodded, as if that would help.

	The leader readied his gun, "If you don't take this needle,
I'll kill you."

	"Can I sit?"  It wasn't really a request as I would have fallen
if they didn't let me.  The man did nod and I tried to make my
way to the couch.  Halfway there the room started to phase out
of existence.  Someone caught me before I hit the floor and
dragged me to the couch.  Half aware of what was going on I felt
the pinch of the needle and not much else.

	As soon as the needle was out of my arm I put my head between
my knees.  While there, an idea struck me.  I don't know why I
thought of it but I had to speak to the leader.

	When my head cleared enough I looked up and blearily tried to
find him.  It wasn't hard as he had moved next to the arm of the
couch and the hollow of the gun is what I focused on when I
asked.  "What are you checking for?"

	"We're checking your samples against known vampire diseases."

	"Like porphyria?"

	"No."

	"You can tell the difference?"

	"Yes."  He said sharply.

	"Oh."  I didn't want him to think me too anxious but I had to
ask, "Can we have our blood back when your done?"  He stiffened.
 Maybe he thought a vampire would value blood to such an extent.
 "Or you can destroy them.  It's just we don't want them being
used to identify us.  You see, most of us don't want to be
found."  He stiffened more.  I was using all the wrong words. 
"We're runaways.  We've left our families behind and if they
knew we were involved in this LARP, well most of us would be
institutionalized."

	"Is that the only reason or have you done something worse?"

	I peered into the hole of the barrel.  Somewhere in there was a
chambered bullet ready to speed out at my face if he didn't
believe me.  A shiver spread across my whole body.  "No one's
done anything that would get them arrested."  I'm not sure if he
believed that.  I know I wouldn't if I were him.

	He didn't say a word though, in fact he wasn't paying much
attention to me as he watched the man remove blood from each of
the slaves.  After the last one he asked, "Is this everyone in
the building?"

	"Yes."

	He called over his shoulder, "Rex, Ben check out the rest of
the building, make sure they're not hiding anything."  Two of
the Hunters broke off while the others guarded us.  The big man
was working at some kind of portable machine with our blood
samples.

	"What's your name?"  He asked me trying to make conversation
while we waited.

	"Sarah."  I said quickly.

	He smirked then asked, "What's your real name?"

	"What's yours?"

	His smile faded.  "Fair enough."  He went silent again.

	Minutes later Rex and Ben reappeared and shook their heads.  Of
course they had found nothing, I could have told them that!  At
a loss once again, the man with a gun in my face asked, "And how
did you become the leader of this ragtag group?" 

	"I'm the storyteller, of course."  I said coyly.

	"Of course."  He was a man of few words.  Playing my part
perfectly I kept glancing down at the gun as if it would go off
at any moment.  Okay, I really was afraid of this.  I may not
love my life but it was improving, so why end it now?

	"What's the story?"

	Great.  The stakes just got higher.  This was the one question
I wasn't expecting.  We hadn't had time to make up one and make
sure everyone was on the same page.  Anything I told him he
could test against someone else and he would know I was lying. 
And one lie always infers everything else was a lie.  What
choice did I have?

	I did what came naturally.  "There's a vampire cartel that is
controlling the banking industry.  Their leader is having an
affair with a human.  Some are questioning his loyalties and
ability to lead.  Meanwhile, his rival in the cartel is
extorting money from the banks and is himself being challenged. 
There are several humans in the FBI who are trying to break the
cartel not knowing what they really are."  I went on and on. 
Stuff just started falling into place after I recalled how we
were setup before interrupted.  As I finished, I heard a few
words from Bea and Julion's conversation with another hunter. 
They were reconstructing the same story! 

	As I talked, they tested each of the viles.  I could tell the
hunter before me was becoming bored.  I wondered how many of
these roleplayers he had to endure.  Finally the man with the
blood testing machine handed the leader a paper.  He read it
with a scowl.

	Then he shocked all of us slaves when he put down his gun and
pulled out a knife.  Everyone was on their feet in protest.  He
grabbed my arm before I could move away from him.

	There was yelling and shuffling and I watched in horror as he
brought the knife down.

	He forced my hand open and cut my palm.  Not very deep but it
stung like crazy.  It hurt even more as he took his handkerchief
and wiped away the blood.  More blood came.  He tried wiping
that away too and I let out a yelp.  As he tried one more time
his grip on me hardened but he also moved my sleeve back
revealing my wrist and scar from a very long time ago.

	He stopped and looked up at me.  The room seemed to have fallen
silent and still.  Either that or everyone else disappeared. 
"What is that?"

	Self-consciously I moved to cover it again.  "Nothing."

	"You've tried to commit suicide?"  His voice was milder now.

	I looked at the closest slave who happened to be Gary in a
choke hold by one of the hunters.  Gary gave me a small nod. 
"Yes."  I said meekly.

	"Why?"  He snapped.

	"Because I hated my life before now."

	This seemed to be the deciding factor for him.  I think it made
him really believe we were runaways.  "Let them go."  He barked
at his cronies.  Immediately they released the slaves.  Cindy
was at my side in an instant wrapping up my newest wound.

	"You should all call home.  Let them know you're still alive." 
He turned to his group.  "Pull out."  He headed for the front
door, forced it open and walked out.  That was it, no apology,
not even a "have a nice day."

	The door closed behind the rest of them.  Luckily, cheers
didn't break out but some people did start moving towards the
windows.  I held up my hands to stop them.  "No, wait, they
could turn back at any minute.  Let's just keep going and see
what happens."  I did post Bea at the window to watch.  Not even
five minutes later she signaled that they were indeed returning.
 

	The door creaked open and silence fell over the room again.  A
couple of people stopped their play fighting and watched the
lead hunter walk in.  He was alone with a box in his hand.  "Is
there something else?"  I asked somewhat irritably as if he were
really interrupting something important.

	"Yes, I forgot to give you these back."  He handed me the box
of viles filled with our blood.  

	"Oh yeah.  Thank you."  He glared around the room, as if
looking to see if anything was out of place.  Nothing was so he
turned on his heel and left.  The door slammed shut again and
there was a collective sigh of relief followed by the clamor of
voices as I gestured for them all to go back into their role
playing.

***

	Hours later, the hunters were still in the town.  "We can't
keep this up all night." said one of the pretend vampires.  

	Despite my amusement at watching some do rather humorous
impressions of some of the real vampires I had to agree. 
Unfortunately, we had to.  When dusk hit the lights had turned
on automatically.  They would remain on all night.  From the
town the hunters would be able to watch for movement.  I stood
in the window wondering where in town the hunters were.  If only
there was a way to know what was going on.  I unfocused on the
outside world and mentally reached out to Bram.  Perhaps he
could tell me.  

	After ten minutes there was nothing.  I was fairly sure I was
still being blocked from him.  I wondered if the King was afraid
of this ability.

	What other way could we find out if the hunters were still
watching us?  The only thing I could think of is if one of us
went and checked ourselves.  I really wanted to go myself,
however I knew it wasn't a good idea.  The King would never
allow it, and the Sheriff would probably have a cow at seeing me
and blow my cover.  What about the others?  I focused on Bram
again.  If I was being monitored, at least they would hear my
idea and maybe approve it.  There was nothing.

	There could be another way, an indirect path.  I sought out
Gary.  "If you were a person living in that town and had hunters
staying there knowing there were vampires around what would you
do?"

	"Probably help the hunters get rid of the vampires."

	"Okay, but what if the vampires were holding something precious
to you?  Would you help the vampires or betray them?"

	"You're not going off the edge again are you?  You're not
making much sense."

	I wasn't sure how much I should tell Gary, or for that matter
how much he already knew.  "If some of us went into town to find
out what was going on, pretending to be a rowdy bunch of
hoodlums or something that would keep up our facade, would the
Sheriff support the ruse or tell the hunters the truth?"

	"Why don't we just ask the vampires to tell us what the towns
people and hunters are thinking?"

	I didn't really have an answer for him.  Maybe because I had
gotten used to thinking up things for our little group to do on
our own.  Maybe in my subconscious I was hoping one or more of
the slaves who went to town could get out.  Maybe I was just
fooling myself.  "You're right."

	"Simple but effective."  He said, then went off to the trap
door to speak with the vampires.

	I still thought that it would support our story if people went
into the town, but this probably was the better way.  The less
exposure the less likely the hunters would think we're lying. 
Gary confirmed this when he returned.  "Well, you were right. 
They're watching the building.  However, the King's sure we've
convinced them.  The Sheriff is reporting he saw them packing
some of their things."

	As dawn broke over the horizon we watched a couple of large
black vans driving out of town.  Finally we could stop playing
and get back to our real lives.  Never thought I'd see the day
when I looked forward to going back to the vampires.  

	I felt Gary at my elbow.  "That was interesting.  How'd you
know it would work?"

	"I didn't.  I was counting on them not killing us in cold
blood.  Simple but effective."

	At this point several people gathered around and shook my good
hand.  "Great work Toni!"

	"Didn't know you could act so well."

	"Looks like Gary has some competition."  At this one I glanced
in Gary's direction but if he heard he certainly hid it well.

	"Great idea you had."

	"Glad we didn't have to fight those guys."

	It went on and on even after I told them that they should get
back to their role playing for a little while.  I didn't push
very hard.  After all, it was nice to be appreciated for once.