Leaving the Light By: Christine Schnell

 

Chapter 41

	As much as I hated to I had to pull myself away from Bram it
was time to go see the King.  It wasn't hard following the path
which Sabertooth took to bring me to the King.  I started in the
empty throne room.  The trickling stream was the only thing that
was there, soo I moved on.  It was hard finding the stairway
though.  Well, to be honest I never did find the stairway.  I
knew where it was supposed to be, but all I found was a wall.  I
knew I wasn't going mad and the minuscule seam I finally found
proved it.  Somehow there was a secret entrance.  I pushed in
every direction I could on the wall to no avail.  Obviously the
opening mechanism was somewhere else, but not in this hall for
there were only blank concrete walls.  Obvious too was that I
was not expected nor welcome at this time.  I had a feeling the
stairway would only appear to me when the King wanted me there.

	I sighed and turned away knowing there was nothing I could do
but wait.  Lord I hated waiting.  Half heatedly I turned back
around to see if the door would open after I walked away from
it, which seemed like it always happened in movies.  It didn't.

	That one month turned into two, two turned into three.  Those
few months together with Bram were like those of newlyweds.  We
saw each other constantly.  It all was happening so fast I
couldn't believe it wasn't a dream.  It was intense perhaps more
than my fragile state of mind could handle.  Recently things
have begun to change slightly.  Unnoticeable at first, and now
slowly I'm beginning to realize something.  I'm scared.

	Scared of the future and scared of the present.  Scared of
Bram.  He knows me, knows me too well, better than anyone ever
had.  Becky, my best friend before my kidnapping, never even
knew me this well.  She knew events, she knew some of my
feelings, but she never really knew me deep down, Bram did. 
Becky didn't know small things such as she may have known my
favorite food but she didn't know the dish that would comfort me
when I didn't feel well.  She didn't know my compulsive need to
nearly always have something in my hands to fidget with.  Bram
did.  He bought me a yo-yo among other things to use for that
purpose.  She just didn't know the versatility of my life.  She
knew I liked many different kinds of music and culture but given
that, she could not tell you why.  Bram could.  We had a long
discussion of that fact a few nights ago.

	This scared me, that conversation among other things proved how
close he was getting to me and how close I was allowing him to
get.  Never had any one so close ever known me so well.  Even
all the other vampires couldn't know me this well despite their
mind reading ability.  Oh sure they could find out easily, but
they didn't because they didn't care.  Bram did.

	He knew how empty my life had been before and how he filled it
up.  He also knew that now it was full, it was too much so and
it was hard for me to handle.

	So I backed off, quietly and serenely.  I didn't stop seeing
him, but I didn't see him as much and I tried to make it public
appearances only.  I've always wanted someone this close to me,
but I didn't know the consequences of it, to give up my entire
life to him.  I wanted a commitment, but even at that time I
wouldn't admit that to myself.  

	I wanted someone to take care of me not the other way around. 
He would have without hesitation, but I wasn't quite ready to
give up all of that independence.  I didn't want to be a leader
either.  I didn't want the slaves to think I could do something
wonderful for them.  I couldn't.  I was just one of them.  I
guess I just wanted something in-between.

	I didn't have the faintest clue what I wanted in my life.  Bram
knew me better than myself, he knew what I would do, he knew
what I wanted, and so he let me back off for a short time.  He
knew how to make things right, that it would take at least a
little pressure off me.  Oh the love was still there.  You must
see that much, for he and I could never stop loving each other. 
It's just that I found I needed time apart as well, even if that
might hurt

	While it might not seem like it, I wasn't wholly blind and
insensitive to the things happening around me.  I knew of the
disturbing trend of my fellow slaves who refused to serve
certain vampires and their punishment for such.  While not
nearly as harsh as my own (at most a few broken bones) it only
instigated more anger towards the vampires.

	There were no events that took away our liberties we had been
slowly given back.  I did notice the vampires watched us more
closely then before.  More vampires roamed the slave court and
the library was all but closed off by their presence.  While I
personally was watched by several and knew it all the time, I
noticed a few others had similar guards.  Gary couldn't walk
anywhere without Raoul ten steps behind him.

	Then the most horrible thing happened.  Cindy died of an
overdose of heroin.  She had stupidly believed that the drug
might have an adverse reaction to the vampire's blood after they
bit her.  Somehow she had gotten a hold of it.  Either by a
dealer when she was outside or as I thought more likely, she
simply ordered it and the Queen or King approved it knowing she
would only kill herself.  

	The moment I found out I went to the infirmary to learn more of
what happened.  Doc Wendel refused to satisfy my curiosity
claiming patient confidentiality.  No need though, I had other
resources and the gossip circle was more than willing to fill in
the gaps.  Apparently Virginia had heard Cindy was the only one
who had taken this route.  Thank God.  Cindy had talked for some
time about how she thought it would work especially if all the
slaves banded together and did it.  Yet she had been afraid to
approach anyone about it, though she thought maybe I would be
willing to talk the others into it.  

	I didn't want to (sully) Cindy's memory by telling Virginia it
was a dumb idea.  After alll if alcohol had little effect drugs
probably wouldn't do much better.  Anyhow, without support of
others Cindy felt she'd try it.  Amazingly she knew it would
take a lot to have an effect and so right before her appointment
with Jerib she shot up.  Apparently so much so that she couldn't
find her way down the halls, got lost, and died within a couple
hours as no one was around to rush her to the infirmary. 
Strange thing was, why didn't any of the vampires read her mind
and know what she was about to do?  If they wanted to make an
example of her they could have done it without letting her die.

	So I explained this all to Lacey.  She had thought it strange
that Cindy would even consider such a thing.  

	"I always thought of her as loyal to the vampires."

	"Yeah, me too.  Then I walked in said 'Hey everybody this
servitude sucks let's rebel' and there you go." 

	"You can't blame yourself for her death!"  Lacey argued.

	"Can't I?  These people were inspired by me.  They became
enraged at my treatment.  Then they depended on me to lead them.
 Since I didn't, they haphazardly try themselves.  I may not
have handed her those drugs, but I might as well have."

	"She made a decision, it wasn't for you to stop her."

	"She was happy and content here until I started making noise."

	"We all were.  You don't..."  She stopped as she realized what
she had said.

	"Thank you."  

	"I didn't mean it, not like that.  You know none of us were
happy about being taken from our family."

	"Just drop it okay."

	"No."  She stopped me with an unusual resolve in her voice. 
"You didn't do it on purpose and we were wrong to force it upon
you.  Still, you showed us we didn't have to be weak, that we
could stand up for ourselves."  

	"And I'm sorry I ever did."

	"Toni?"  I turned away from her so I wouldn't have to explain
it.  She would never understand.  

	"Fine, but you know this isn't going to change anything.  You
can't stop what you've started."

	I didn't answer her.  I was ashamed.  It only made it worse
when she slammed the computer room door on me.  I was no longer
the person she admired and my admiration for myself had also
dwindled, but what else could I do?

	 "Toni, you okay?"  Al asked quietly at the door.  Lacey must
have rushed to find him for it had only been a few minutes.

	"Yeah, fine."

	"I heard you and Bram aren't getting along."  Hmm... And here I
was expecting a similar lecture to Lacey's.

	"We get along fine."

	"That's not what he said."

	"We get along, but only when we're together."

	"And you're not together?"

	"It's complicated."

	"It would probably help to talk about it."

	"Yeah, but not right now Al.  See our relationship isn't the
most important thing in the world.  Oh sure I'd like it to be
but you know all that rubbish about the good of the many.  My
happiness is kind of outweighed by the rest of the slaves.  I
simply don't have too much time to spend with Bram."

	"Kiddo those people out there can take care of themselves."

	"They need me."  I countered with a horribly emotional argument.

	"I think most of them would be content if you and Bram were
'together'"    

	"Yeah, Cindy wasn't content, nor was Paul or Mona or-"

	"I get the idea.  But for now, let's let those who have passed
on be the inspiration for the others.  You need to move on with
your own life."

	I agreed but in my heart I was conflicted.  This was something
I'd have to work out on my own.

	"Good, now Bram would like to see you.  He's in the game room"

	I would love to see my beautiful Bram but I didn't really want
to give him mixed signals.  "Can you tell him not now, tomorrow
or perhaps-"

	"Toni, don't be an idiot.  Go see the man.  He needs you as
much as you need him."  

***

	Bram sat engaged in a game of chess with Douglas.  He was
obviously watching over the slaves in the room as he was not as
intensely into it as he normally was.  We may have gotten some
things back but privacy wasn't one of them.  In a way I resented
him for taking this role, though I knew he was ordered to do it
and probably wasn't happy about it.

	When Bram spotted me, he excused himself from the game.  He
approached me with the saddest puppy dog eyes and a bouquet of
red and white roses.  I almost expected him to fall on his knees
but that would be unbecoming of him.  "Toni, I'm sorry."  

	I truly was moved and took the preferred roses.  He leaned down
and gave me a gentle kiss.  "What's this for?"  

	"For whatever I did wrong."

	"You don't even know?"  Men!

	He shrugged.  "For pushing you away."   

	I shook my head and smelled the flowers like a stereotypical
woman.  "It's not your fault.  You should know this."

	"Yes, but I want you-"  He broke off and looked towards the
door.

	Again a tumult would wreak an otherwise quite afternoon.  This
time we were greeted by a much nicer surprise.  "What the heck
is that?"  People had already started to crowd.  I swear a crowd
could gather instantaneously no matter how few people were in
the area if they had the proper motivation.

	"Don't move maybe it won't hurt you."  Crowds were also often
paranoid.

	I peered over a couple people's shoulders but still couldn't
see until a path cleared.  Ironic I thought since they wouldn't
do so for the Queen.  

	"Sabertooth!"  I called as I saw the metal glint.

	"Sabertooth?" asked someone.

	"Like the tiger?"  Another asked, but I ignored them all.

	At the sound of his name Sabertooth's head perked up and he
trotted forward as best he could straight to me.

	"I wouldn't go near it."  Bea warned me.

	"It's all right, he's what I created for the King."

	There was more murmuring behind me but it was all
incomprehensible as I patted him on the head and lead him to my
computer room.  I didn't realize we weren't alone until I
stopped to open the door.  	

	"What?"  I asked the dozen or so people who had followed us. 
Sabertooth was now sitting and watching me while his sound
system emitted the happy panting of a dog.

	"What is that?" Julion asked.

	"It's a robot."  I didn't look at them.  I just wanted to get
into my little hidey hole away from the crowd.

	"What's it, like, do?"  Gwen started to put her hand out
towards Sabertooth.  To everyone's surprise he growled.  Gwen
jumped back.  

	"Sabertooth!"  I remonstrated then knelt down to him, "You're
not supposed to do that."  He started panting happily again.

	"Aren't you going to turn it off?"

	"He doesn't have any teeth, he can't hurt you."  I insisted.

	"He?  You haven't, like, become attached to it or anything?"

	"She's right, he could be dangerous, I mean look at those feet,
they're sharp." Julion said.

	I sighed.  "Listen, do you like having things the games and
stuff back?  You want more?"  A few people nodded.  It was
better than nothing.  "How do you think you got them?  You have
HIM to thank for them."  I put my hand on Sabertooth's head and
he pawed my leg wanting more attention.  Damn, I really was
starting to think of him as a real dog.  He certainly acted like
it.  I'd have to talk to the Master of All Things about that
too, but first I had to deal with his new girlfriend.

	"Gwen, I'm like totally only gonna fix his mechanics, so, like,
if you don't like it you know where to stick it girlfriend."  I
pushed open the door and Sabertooth clumsily came in with me.  I
shut the door behind us before anyone could attempt to follow us.

	I found myself still clutching the bouquet Bram had given me. 
I wanted to throw them across the room in rage.  I couldn't
though.  He gave them to me out of kindness and that would just
be wrong.  Instead I delicately put them down on the desk.  I
would have to get water for them soon.  I felt bad for Bram. 
After all I had left him standing there.  Of course he didn't
follow me here either so I could almost be justified in being
upset with him.  One look at my psudo dog made me remember the
look Bram had when giving me the flowers and I found I couldn't
be mad at him.  My anger at myself also subsided.

	Sabertooth made himself right at home, curled up next to the
chair and went into energy save mode.  I petted his back and
spoke softly to him.  "That's right buddy, you just get comfy. 
You don't mind that I'm going to take you off line for a little,
do you?"  No sound or motion came from him so I took it as
permission and I dug through the fur to find the panel that let
me access his off button.  I nearly cried when I pushed it.

***

	Keir wouldn't talk to me about any of the issues currently
going on.  He couldn't care less for my feelings for Sabertooth.
 He pretended to not even know Cindy.  He must have smelled my
breakup with Bram like blood in the water.  He even asked, "So
is the honeymoon over?"  He considered the King and Queen's life
private, completely unlike my own. 

	His attention to me intensified.  He had no compunction about
correcting me in public.  He seemed to lavish in it.  He had a
heck of a good time letting me know just what I had done wrong
with the hunters in front of the entire slave court.  

	Things had calmed down considerably.  My work on Saber was
almost finished.  I hadn't paid much attention to my fellow
slaves though I heard rumors from Lacey.  For the most part they
were just rumors.  Keir would rather I spent our time in
pleasing him rather than acknowledging people beyond his
existence.

	In his room he was worse than ever except maybe the time he had
kept me isolated.  Occasionally he would place the whip curled
up on the table like a pet snake.  Nothing seemed to prompt this
action other than his wish to let me know he still had it
available for use.  He'd tell me what to do, how to act, what to
say, then he would expect me to know what he wanted before he
told me.  For instance one night Keir asked me for a glass of
water.  Simple enough right?  Well, I thought I'd try to suck up
to him and bit and make it up proper with ice and even a lemon.

	He proceeded to yell at me!  "Did I ask for lemon?"

	"no."

	"Ice?"

	"no."

	"Then get it right!"  I hurriedly took the glass away and
brought it plain.

	I thought I had learned my lesson.  Oh no.  The next time he
asked for a glass of water, nothing more mind you and I brought
it as plain as could be, he asked, "Where is the ice?"

	All of this I believed was reciprocation for how close Bram and
I had gotten.  Now that Bram wasn't there to protect me Keir
felt safe in doing what he would to me.  It could have been that
he didn't like the favor that the King was showing me.  No, I
didn't think it was jealousy.  He was above that.  He just
didn't want me to be happy.  I had no doubt he blamed me for
some of the things that were happening with the slaves.  I had
heard several had tried unsuccessfully to avoid serving him.

	I do think he had an ulterior motive, for he kept popping up
unexpectedly.  Sometimes upset at me for nothing and sometimes
just to see what I was doing.  Each time he acted as if I should
have known he was coming.  It was as if he was trying to force
me to be able to read his mind, if only as a survival instinct.  

	Perhaps it was working for I had a feeling he was coming this
day.  I cleaned up my mess in the lab earlier than normal.  A
few of Sabertooth's parts were spread across the table.  I was
hoping to finish with my adjustments in a few days.  I was
hoping with that some things might be a little better for the
slaves.  

	Grease smeared my hands and face and try as I might I couldn't
clean it off well enough without a shower.  I didn't have time
for one though so a rag would have to do.  I knew when he came
my appearance would not be acceptable to him.  I steeled myself
for his reproach.

	Strangely though, I was in a good mood.  I was almost looking
forward to his visit.  I think I was becoming too accustomed to
him.  He even knocked before he opened the door.

	"Come in."  I called and tried to act surprised to see him.  

	Imagine my disappointment when Gary entered.  I had been wrong
after all.

	He unceremoniously dropped two pieces of circuit board in front
of me.  "Keir says you may restore the jukebox now."  So, I was
partially right.  He sent his errand boy.  If he were almost any
other man I would have jumped up and hugged him

	He looked about the room haughtily until his eyes fell upon
Sabertooth.  "Is that thing safe?"

	"He doesn't even have any legs."

	"I mean in general."

	"He doesn't even have any teeth."   

	"The Queen thinks it's dangerous."

	I would have told him the Queen was delusional but figured for
my own safety I shouldn't.  "I don't believe he will actually
harm anyone."

	"Yeah?  I just don't want it mauling someone then have the
vampires come down on us for it."

	"Don't worry, I'm sure they'll hold me responsible."  That was
an inevitability.

***

	The slaves had a huge party that night, larger than any I had
ever known.  I must say it was one of the most enjoyable times
I've had with the other slaves.  Everyone of course had to
congratulate me on persuading the vampires to give us the
jukebox back.  If there was a center of attention I was it, but
more it was just one big celebration.  Music, good food, and
friends.

	The vampires didn't stop us.  They didn't even intrude too
much.  A few intermingled and danced.  Mostly they watched from
afar.  Keir circled the outer edges looking for prey.

	Erik did some acrobatics.  He did more flips then a pancake. 
Then I'm certain he broke several bones to do some contortionist
thing that allowed him to shape himself in a ball and roll
around the room.  I laughed heartily when he sprang up from that
position did the splits with a triumphant air and then found he
couldn't quite get up again.  We of course helped him up.  It
was the first and only time I ever saw a vampire perform purely
for the entertainment of the slave masses.

	Hell, I was in such a good mood that I asked Keir to get his
lyre and sing for us.  Of course he wouldn't, but it was fun
trying to convince him.  Well, we could entertain ourselves
anyway.  We played musical chairs (a much safer version of the
King's game), a game of charades, and someone even drew up a
crude donkey on a wall.  We wound up with a hundred tails
plastered all over the room.  It was childish but it was fun.

	Later Al selected "Sing, Sing, Sing," the Benny Goodman swing
tune, on the jukebox took me by the hand and started waving his
hands and feet about.  I couldn't keep up with the old codger. 
This started a bit of a competition that my two left feet
quickly disqualified me from.  I did have fun shaking and
undulating with the crowd as we watched a dozen or so slaves
sweep the floor with their partners.  Al and Heather were the
most agile and daring.  They'd go from a yo-yo type move to
sliding her through his legs bringing her back up for a dip.  It
was amazing.  I could just see Al as a young boy wearing
bobby-sox and sliding around the dance floor with a big band in
the background.  

	When everyone was too tired to lift their partner off the
ground the jukebox switched to the King of Rock and Roll.  Al
was still bumping and grinding, twisting and shouting.  I was
glad to see the energy he had, even if it was for only one
night.  To my dismay the crowd thought this was a karaoke bar
and began singing along.

	I made my escape while no one was looking.  I went in search of
refreshments.  Even in the kitchen my ears ached from the out of
tune singing.  I had gotten myself some punch and was in the
process of scrounging through the salad bar when I heard
howling.  For just a brief second my fancy thought werewolves
were going to attack the vampires.  Of course there are no such
things as werewolves, right?

	"You ain't notthen but a hoouuund doog."  I threw a grape at
Nate who entered the kitchen.  "What?"

	"Stop mutilating a good song."

	"Who's mutilating?  I'm improving."  He tossed a different
grape at me that I caught.

	"It doesn't need improvement."  My ill aimed shot hit the table
and rolled onto the floor.  And they thought I'd be able to hit
a hunter with a bullet? 

	As if reading my thoughts, "I never got to say thanks."

	"For what?"  He pointed upwards as if that would explain it. 
It did since the old building was somewhere above us.  "Yeah,
well, it wasn't really me."

	"You saved our lives.  I owe you one."

	"You don't owe me anything."  Trying to bring the mood back up
to a level of fun I tossed the grape at him once more and he
deftly caught it in his mouth.  "Bet you can't do that again." 
I threw another a little faster this time.

	It bounced off his forehead.  "Hey!"  He picked up the handiest
thing, an orange slice, and hurled it my way.  And so it began.

	My wild pitch of lettuce hit Mark on the back of the head.  I
knew I was in trouble when he eyed the bowl of salad dressing
next to him.  That area soon became a tossed salad.  It didn't
take long for the entrees to go sailing.

	The vampires didn't interfere until the food fight started
melting into the dining area.  I needed two showers to get all
of the chocolate moose out of my hair.

***

	Apparently they had gotten a taste for the life they could have
and wanted more.  One night of music, good food and friends was
not enough.  If the vampires intended it to be a morale booster
they had another thing coming.  It wasn't that long before the
slaves decided they were going to get back their full privileges.

	During that time I wasn't the only one with issues of being
close to vampires.  Rumors abounded between the slaves.  Some
people had refused to serve the vampires in any way, shape or
form.  Others had tried hunger strikes.  A couple unsuccessfully
tried suicide.  Oh and that's what Cindy's death was ruled.  No
one believed it, not even Dr. Wendel who did the diagnosis. 
Only one tried to escape.  No, it wasn't me.  I had no reason to
escape anymore.

	Brandy had never been treated fairly by the vampires.  I never
thought she was rebellious type until they shamefully dragged
her in after getting lost and then stuck in the air ducts.  They
did not punish her in public and not as severely as they did me.
 Perhaps they were afraid it would rally the slaves more, or
that her humiliation would be enough.  

	I was approached a few times for ideas that I refused to give. 
It wasn't that I didn't want to do the same thing or even to
help them.  I just didn't want to be put under the whip again. 
A few people even became upset at me for being so obsequious. 
After all that had happened, I became something of a celebrity. 
People were coming to me for more than just advice on how to
screw the vampires.  Yet another rumor had spread about my list
of those who'd passed on.  Slaves approached me over and over
with names to contribute.  The list grew and after replacing it
about a dozen times it stayed in place.

	I was treated with respect by the slaves and surprisingly by
most vampires as well.  Only Keir really wasn't happy with me.  

	I could live with that.  What I couldn't live with was how I
suddenly became their leader.  I didn't realize I had achieved
this title until I walked through an unusually crowded slave
court in the middle of the day.  I had come back from serving
Shelly and I had a strange feeling when I found a lot of slaves,
nearly every last one, packed into the dining area.  Every seat
was full every aisle someone elbowed their way in to get a seat.
 The most eerie thing was the room was silent.  Not one person
spoke.  When I walked in heads turned but the stillness was
unbroken.  I asked the first person I came across what was up.

	Lloyd said, "Oh good, you're here, we can start."

	"Start what?"

	"The meeting."  He led me through the crowd and to where Gary
was sitting.

	Gary didn't look thrilled to see me.  "About damn time.  They
want you to talk to them?"

	"Huh?  Talk to who about what?"

	"Them."  He pointed to the slaves whom all were watching us. 
"They're on strike."

	"What?  Why?"

	"They are taking after their hero."  His voice was laced with
loathing.

	"Huh?"  

	"You.  They are on strike.  They want you to give them a pep
talk."

	"Me?  Why me?"  Oh God, this was not happening.  I've finally
made peace with the vampires and now this.

	"Why do you think?  You talked the hunters out of killing us. 
You survived the King's wrath."  That wasn't me, that was the
prophecy and it had kept me alive.    

	"So?"  I hissed.  I was beginning to feel self conscious and
exposed.

	"So just talk to them."     

	I looked at the crowd and Lacey was right there up front.  She
gave me an encouraging smile.  I didn't want to do it.  It was
too risky.  Who was to say they wouldn't hurt or kill each one
of us?  I didn't want to fight the vampires.  I wanted to run
from here and be with Bram.  Would that ever be possible again?

	I was right when I told Al the slaves were more important than
my relationship with him.  They needed me now more than ever. 
They would not survive this night if I didn't speak to them.

	I looked at the rest of the slaves.  They didn't deserve to be
treated poorly by the vampires.  I had no clue what I would say
to hem.  My stomach had butterflies and I wrung my hands as I
thought.

	Not a day went by that I didn't think of Bram's warning that I
would become a vampire.  I fear the moment it would happen.  I
fear becoming something I'm not.  I fear treating these slaves,
my friends, the way I had been treated.  I feared how the other
vampires would treat me.  I fear all these things and more.  

	That was not what stopped my tongue now.  While none here save
Al and Lacey knew I was already doomed to vampirism I think they
had guessed the prophecy referred to me and therefore knew of my
fate.  I feared their judgment of me.  I feared they would think
I'm already turning against them because of what I not yet was. 
That I am doing it only to please those who would be my equals
not those who are currently.

	It was true.  I was doing this to make the vampires happy.  No,
that's not right, I was doing it not to make them unhappy,
specifically towards me.  Of course it could also benefit these
poor souls.

	I faced them and spoke as loud as possible.  "I know a lot of
you are here because you've been mistreated by our captors.  I
know you think because of what I've been through that I can
sympathize with you.  I do.  I don't want anyone to get hurt
that is why I am going to ask you not do this."  There were
murmurs and slight protests.  They quieted when I raised my
hands.

	"When I was out there in that town I met a man.  He was most
powerful man there.  He had weapons at his disposal and could
probably form a small army.  In fact he tried something similar
to this.  He failed.  He only managed to get a bunch of slaves
killed before the vampires came.  Hundreds of people in the town
were slaughtered."  Okay I exaggerated a bit.  "Not this man,
they did much worse, they took his family from him."  Lacey's
lip quivered but she kept silent.  

	"I'm not telling you this to get you riled against them, in
fact the opposite.  You already know you can't physically fight
them.  This sit in is not much different.  They'll stop you
before you really get going."

	"They can't make us work!"  Jeremy called from the back.

	"They can.  It's not that difficult for them to take over your
mind."

	"They are controlling you.  They've turned you against us."

	Figures, they wanted me to speak and now that I am they say I'm
lying.  "They're not controlling me.  I just see the reality of
the situation.  They live longer, are stronger, faster, and
smarter than us.  So what if we out number them 3 to 1 we don't
have weapons or an thing else."

	"We have you."  One of my ardent supporters said.

	"Right, so I can fight off a couple, but not the King, and you
know he's the one that will concentrate on me."

	"But the prophecy-"

	"The prophecy is hogwash.  Just a fantasy of the King's."

	"If it's such a fantasy why is he afraid of you?"  

	You know sometimes when you look back on a moment you realize
how stupid you were back then.  How easy it would have been to
challenge the King and lose and then be free of my mortal coil. 
"If we fight them they will have absolutely no reason to keep
their pretense of kindness they will kill us or worse.  Believe
me I know how bad it can get." 

	"All the more reason to leave." 

	"Have you learned nothing from my experiences?  There is no way
out except death."  They were silent but I knew that statement
didn't settle well with them.  Damn how I hate my protective
nature.  These stupid little slaves didn't know what was good
for them and they looked to me to tell them.  Sometimes they had
to take matters into their own hands.

	"Don't be stupid!  We've just got some privileges back.  Do you
want them to take them away again?  This would make you guys
hate the vampires more and work against them more, which in turn
would make the vampires take away more privileges or start
hurting people.  It's just a vicious circle.  It won't stop
until one or the other break the circle."

	"So,  talk to them, make them understand our side and break the
circle." Norma said.

	"They won't listen to me or any slave."

	"Bram would."  Chris said quietly by my elbow.

	I shook my head.  I wasn't about to ask such a thing of him.

	One by one I watched people stand and leave.  I called out to
them, "I'm sorry.  I wish I could help you, but this is for the
best."  Lacey stood.  She didn't even looking at me.  She wasn't
looking at anyone.  "Lacey?"  I ran to her but she kept walking,
so did the others.  "This is the vampire's work.  Can't you see
that?"  I gestured the remaining people to look at Lacey's face.
 "They've taken control of these people.  She's not even aware
of my presence.  They'll take control of each of you.  There is
no way you can stop it.  No fighting them."

	"Are we to just give in then?"  Jeremy asked.

	"Is there nothing we can do?"  The questions and protest came
pouring in but the room was getting more subdued by the moment
as more people left.  I had no clue what to tell them.

	"Block them out."  I said hurriedly to those who were still
there.  "Build up a mental wall."

	"How?"

	I started to try to figure out how to explain it.  I could
picture it mentally, but to put it into words was difficult.  By
the time I figured it out, it was of no use as there was no one
left for me to tell.  I found myself the only one in the dining
area.  Alone.