Leaving the Light By: Christine Schnell

 Chapter 47



	I was to upset to cry, to pissed off to hide in the closet and
just too mortified to take my aggression out on a punching bag. 
I settled for a trip to the kitchen for some comfort food.

	I didn't feel I was being unreasonable.  After all it was true
I had no control over whose bed I would be in next, he did.  

	I shoveled some macaroni and cheese into my mouth and pondered
over what could possibly make Bram physically attracted to Keir.
 Sure Keir had a superb body, even I couldn't deny that, his
dark skin glistened like a well-oiled machine and his muscles
were sculptured to perfection.  He's also had centuries of
practice honing his seduction techniques.  None of this can
counterbalance that he's an asshole.

	He must have heard me thinking about him as he walked into the
kitchen intent on one goal.  I stopped the spoon halfway to my
mouth.  A few pieces of macaroni slimed their way off and
glopped back on their brethren below.  I knew there was no
escape so I stood and walked towards him.  He waited patiently
for me to reach him then walked out silently.  I followed my
head bowed.

	Once inside his room he didn't acknowledge me except in saying,
"Take off your clothes."  How many times had he ordered me to do
this?  How many times had I disobeyed him simply to piss him
off.  There was no reason too now he was already pissed.  So I
slid out of my clothes and though not ordered to do so folded
them neatly into a pile.

	I stood there naked and cold in his low lit room.  He stood
impassively behind me, not even close to me.  I didn't hear him
move at all; not even to take off his own clothes.  What could
he be up to?

	I waited for a blow.  I waited for him to yell at me. 
Something.  I kept waiting.  So it was to be the silent
treatment again.  I glanced around and did not see the
threatening whip out so he was not trying to intimidate me at
the moment.  What form of torture was he going for here?

	Finally, after dragging the silence along, he spoke softly and
enticingly, "I could take advantage of you anytime I want and
there's nothing you can do about it."  He swept a hand above my
forearm just barely brushing the tips of the hairs causing goose
bumps to form under them.  He breathed softly in my ear.  "Just
as there is nothing you can do about Bram and I.  You know your
entire life is ours to govern.  You have to learn to trust us to
do what is right for you.  Just as you are trusting me right at
this moment not to rape you and then drain all your blood."

	I thought he knew me better than that.  After all I was still
waiting for him to push me onto the floor and do as he pleases
with me.  In fact I was ready for it and was resigned to give
myself to him.

	Perhaps I didn't really know him as well as I thought.  "Put
your clothes back on."  He snapped.

	I blinked.  Did I hear him right?  Not wanting to evoke his
wrath I did as I was told.  My hands shook as I did so.  Why? 
Was it relief or something else?

	My back was to him the entire time so I wasn't sure what he was
feeling and I did not intend to probe him to find out.  This was
certainly a lesson.  I just wasn't sure what I should be
learning from it.  When the last article of clothing was on, he
said, "Leave."

	Leave?  This wasn't like him at all.  He was always so rough. 
He hadn't even touched me.  He hadn't even spoken harshly to me.
 Finally I looked at him though I avoided his eyes.  He looked
relaxed yet disheartened.  What had I done?

	"You don't want me?"  

	"No."  He said bluntly.

	Well, why the hell did he invite me here then?  I didn't voice
that though.  He stood off to the side arms crossed.  He
wouldn't look at me.

	I left for I knew there was no reason to try anymore.  When I
walked away, something happened that I didn't expect.  A tear
rolled down my cheek.

	I angrily wiped it away.  How could I shed a tear over this and
not Bram's faithlessness?  	Maybe it wasn't me.  Maybe he really
did like Bram more than me.  Honestly, I do have to admit I
somewhat looked at Keir differently from that night on.  I mean
he's gentle enough for Bram to like and he was right, he could
have raped me but held himself back.  Well, Bram could have him.
 Obviously, neither of them wanted me.

	Another tear fell.

	No!  I wasn't crying over Keir's rejection.  I couldn't be.

	I was crying because I didn't want to admit to myself that I
was no longer desirable.  All at once I was unwanted and
abandoned.  

	This is not happening to me.  It's happening to someone else. 
Someone else's life is falling apart before my eyes.  Not mine. 
I was sane, in good health, and had a decent life where my
boyfriend was not some freak and all my friends don't involve
themselves in a conspiracy against me.  This sort of thing just
didn't happen to people.  I mean come on, vampires!?

	No.

	I recognized the symptoms.  I had been down this road before. 
Trying to delude myself wouldn't work.  My experience with the
vampires was too painful to not be real.  Besides, something
always came up to snap me out of it.  No doubt something crafted
by the vampires.  I knew better than to get my hopes up by
daydreaming about someone else's life.  

	I laid on my cot.  Perhaps I couldn't daydream about someone
else's life but I might as well try to dream my way out of this
nightmare for a few hours.  The lights glared down in my eyes
and the snoring from the next cot kept me from falling asleep
right away.  My mind began to wander despite itself.  I
fantasized about Bram coming to apologize.  He broke into Keir's
room and placed himself between Keir and me.  He held Keir back
with an outstretched palm and puts an arm around me.  He
whispered softly in my ear and slowly backed us out of the room.
 Of course that didn't really happen.  It would never happen.  

	Next he was standing over me silently waiting for me to open my
eyes.  He held a flower out for me.  His eyes were soft, not
unlike how they had looked at Keir just a short while ago. 
Damnit!  My eyes shot open.  Of course he wasn't there.  I
cursed him again for not coming to me.

	Why hadn't he come to apologize?  Why wasn't he here now? 
Certainly, he could see my thoughts, that I still wanted him to
rescue me, even now.  Even after what happened.  If only he
would show me he wanted me more than...  Well more than anyone
else.  No, I couldn't blame him, for my blood still boiled and I
would have cursed him more if he was here.  We both just needed
some time to ourselves to figure out our priorities.  Mine was
to perish him from my mind and never let him hurt me like this
again.  He was a vampire plain and simple.  I must learn to
treat him as I do any other vampire.  I will serve him and
nothing more.

	Oh I wasn't going to fool myself.  I knew this was harder than
it sounded.  I would have to stick to my guns and when he asked
me to his room I will just have to extend my wrist to him and
tell him to drink.  I know once he did everything would be
easier.  That is if I didn't die.

	That's right.  If I just keep thinking about all those people
he's murdered I wouldn't have a problem adjusting to this new
line of thought.  To help with the process I groggily began
going over the list of names.  All those poor souls whom he had
willingly or "accidentally" caused to die.  With each the world
started to grow darker and disappear around me.

***

	I had been up to the building several more times since the
initial incident yet all was still quiet.  There was no sign of
any hunters to be found.  The quiet and solitude was horrible. 
It allowed me to ponder my thoughts far too much.  My mind
whirled around the scene in Bram's room.  I felt a bit of
vertigo coming on.  I couldn't even think about them let alone
do as Keir insisted.  If I couldn't handle their relationship
what made them think I could handle being a vampire?  I couldn't
even handle the urge to jump out the window I was staring out. 
If the windows weren't double paned and sealed shut I would have.

	I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever get out of the complex
again.  I hadn't even been selected for some of the short trips.
 I think they were purposely keeping me close to them.  Perhaps
the King did not trust me to stick to my word.  Perhaps he was
right to as even now I contemplated suicide.

	The building was lonely.  Only a few of us were here now, just
enough to make it lived in.  I had the room all to myself as I
sat at a table against the window.  I dealt the dusty cards out
before me but the lonely town a half mile away held my
attention.  There was nothing there particularly interesting to
see.  You couldn't even really make out people just little
lights in windows of dark buildings.  Still I pondered what
their life must be like.  Free to go where they choose.  Free to
do what they like.  Free to choose whom they sleep with.

	"Toni?"  Bram's voice shocked me.

	Most of all; those people were free to get away from someone
they don't want to talk to.

	Bram had sat in the chair across the table from me.  He lightly
put his hand on top of mine.  I slid mine out from under his. 
It wasn't that I didn't want to feel his touch.  I was afraid it
would provoke too many emotions in me.  Really it was for his
own good, even if it hurt and disappointed him.

	"I'm sorry.  I didn't mean for you to find us like that.  I had
the whole night planned differently."

	The whole night?  So he was planning on Keir spending the
night?  He wanted to share me with Keir?  God, as if I didn't
think this could get any worse.  

	"Please don't jump to conclusions."

	What else was I to think?  I wanted to know what he thought.  I
should at least give him the benefit of the doubt and find out
why he thought this was a good idea.  I felt around in his mind.
 Well, at least I tried to.  There was nothing there.  Was he
keeping it from me or was he blocking me altogether?  I tried
harder and only came up with a dense heavy feeling as if I was
pushing up against a wall of wind in a hurricane.  I stood up
and turned away from him.  If he didn't want me in his mind, he
didn't want me in his life.

	"Toni, it's not what you think.  They're blocking us, remember?"

	Right, good excuse.  I vaguely remember him telling me
something like that, but how do I know he didn't alter my memory
just now.  He's deceived me so much, why not this too?

	He sighed.  "You know, I'd explain it all to you, but I don't
think you'd believe me.  No matter what I said now.  Would you?"

	"Why don't you just force your way into my mind and make me
forget all this.  Hell make me think I actually like Keir so you
can have your little fun date."  That little town looked so much
further away now.

	"That is not...!"  He started peevishly then stopped himself. 
"You know I wouldn't do that."

	I gave him a short humph.  I thought I knew him.  I've learnt
better.

	"You need time to think about this.  I'll talk to you later." 
He said dejectedly.  I heard his footfalls move slowly across
the floor to the door, then down the stairs.  I shivered as the
building felt emptier now than ever.

***

	"Why'd you do that to Bram?"  Lacey confronted me when I got
back to my cot.

	"Me?!"

	"Yes you.  He's devastated.  He's been nothing but patient with
you.  How can you be so closed minded about this."  How has this
become my fault?  "It's not like you didn't know these
relationships existed."

	I was tired but awake enough to come up with an argument.  "Not
between vampires!  They just sleep with slaves."

	"You know better than that."  She was right and I shuddered
when I pictured the Queen and Heremon together.  Besides, did I
expect our relationship to stop after I became a vampire?  Hell,
I didn't think I would have had this many problems before that
time.  Suffice it to say I never thought that far ahead.

	However, that wasn't what was crossing my mind at that moment. 
I couldn't get past Bram sleeping with other people.  "Not Bram.
 I haven't even heard of him being with other men."

	"I don't know how you missed it.  He doesn't discriminate."  I
didn't know about that all I could think of was bimbos hanging
off his arms.

	"I've never seen him with any men."

	"Maybe you've kept your eyes closed to it."

	"Maybe."  I grudgingly accepted it.  "But not Keir.  He's
always fighting with Keir, I've seen them."

	"Was it really what you thought it was?  Was it ever over
anything other than you?"

	This gave me pause.  "But Keir-"

	"He's not as bad as you might think.  He and Bram have been
friends for centuries."

	"Friends?"  This seemed a foreign word.

	"Yes, In fact I've been involved in a few org-."

	"I don't want to hear it."  I stopped her when she started
saying that word.

	"Maybe you need to.  Maybe it's because you've ignored these
kinds of things that this comes as a shock to you."

	"And maybe I'm not a nymphomaniac like some people."  I said
irritably.

	"That was uncalled for."  Still it didn't stop Lacey.  "You're
a hypocrite.  You listen to other peoples problems, tell them
what is wrong with them or otherwise and expect them to thank
you for the advise but YOU won't listen and accept your own
faults."

	Ouch.  

	After she let it sink in, Lacey said more softly, "Bram has
done nothing wrong."  

	"What?"

	"You heard me.  In his view there's nothing wrong with having
sex with another strong handsome man, it's a natural occurrence.
 They're more free than hippies when it comes to sex.  They
don't understand humans and monogamy.  They've seen too many
wars fought over it.  Do you know there hasn't been an internal
clan fight for almost two centuries?"

	"No."

	"They practically invented the slogan 'Make love, not war.'"

	"They fight amongst themselves, there's so many conspiracies
going on here."

	"Name one."

	"The prophecy, Keir aiming for the king's throne and Lowell's
death.  I can go on."

	She laughed.  "None of those are conspiracies.  They're rumors.
 The prophecy has yet to be proven that it is even you.  Keir
doesn't want the throne; he knows it has responsibilities he
doesn't want.  The only conspiracy around Lowell's death was
keeping you from going ballistic."

	"Right.  No conspiracies."  I said skeptically, "Then, why is
Gary going around trying to kill people?"

	"Huh?"

	"He's tried to shove sleeping pills down Kenneth and my
throats."

	"When?"

	"Right after my first suicide attempt.  And Kenneth recently."

	"Gary wouldn't do that?"

	"No, why not?  Because he's really a good guy?  Yeah, I suppose
he slept with Bram too."  The stern look on her face told me all
I needed to know about that.  "Damnit!"  I snapped for the first
time raising my voice above the common whisper of the room.  The
people, used to my outbursts by now, didn't even look my way.  

	"We all have at one time or another.  You know this."

	"I know.  He stopped once I came here.  Didn't he?" 

	"I slept with him last week."

	"Oh God."  I felt nauseous.  "It is a conspiracy.  Against me."
 Everything Bram had told me.  Every loving word he had mumbled
into the nape of my neck, every kiss, everything was all a big
lie.  They did it to trick me into being content and to distract
me from the real evil of this place.  The sad thing is, it
worked and there was nothing I could do about it now.  

	Lacey tried to keep it hidden but laughter shone in her voice
when she said, "There's no conspiracy.  This is just the way
things are.  You just have to learn to live with it."  I scowled
at her.  Realizing it wasn't helping she tried to console me. 
"He does love you."  Too little too late.  	"Yep, me and the
dozen bimbo slaves he's screwing right now."

	"You need to come back down to reality."  She said crisply. 
"You're a slave too.  You are not superior to the rest of us. 
They can kill you just as easily as anyone on that list of
yours.  So stop taking everything so personally and accept it."

	"I can accept anything but this.  If he loves me then he
wouldn't sleep around."

	"He doesn't 'sleep around.'  It's kind of like he's giving us
something in return for giving him our blood."

	"Yeah, what did Keir give him then?"

	"I already explained that to you."  Lacey sighed as if this was
harder on her than me.  "What would you have done had you found
me there with Bram instead of Keir?"

	"Probably lose more than one friend."

	I didn't like that Lacey blamed me.  It was like all of a
sudden I was becoming the enemy.  I was, wasn't I?  I didn't
want this whole becoming a vampire thing to get between Lacey,
or any other slave, and I.  Just as I never thought Keir would
come between Bram and me.  Yet here I was.

	She gave up after this, obviously she felt I was too dense to
realize that sex to the vampires was just a means of pleasure
and not a symbol of one's affection.  I think she's right, after
all it's such an intimate thing that I can't help putting my
heart and soul into it when I'm with Bram.  For him to go and
sleep with someone else would be like taking my heart with him
to that other person, and that is just wrong.

***

	So as I was saying before Lacey so rudely interrupted me, I had
noticed as of late a conspiracy to keep me from getting stressed
out.  The vampires tend to do things to distract me from certain
feelings.  Hell, from any feelings.  They may like the concept
of free love but I wondered if they ever experienced it or any
other emotion.  They hid themselves so deep physically and
mentally I wondered if they ever came up for air.  

	Well, they did go out into the night air occasionally and I was
about to get a taste of this freshness.  I thought they had
given up on allowing me outside.  Perhaps they thought it would
give me a new perspective on things.  I wonder why they would
ever even imagine this?  I mean I made up my mind.  If Lacey
couldn't change it they probably couldn't either.  

	So yeah, I think it was a conspiracy.  Bram tells me I'm to
become a vampire I get sent up to be bait for hunters.  Slaves
go out on strike and Erik takes me to Phoenix.  Erik dies Kama
starts teaching me etiquette.  Bram and Keir have sex Urquhart
comes to take me on an outing.  I secretly crossed my fingers
this would be a simple vacation away from it all.  For what
would they come up with that's bigger and more distracting than
what I've already been through? 

	Urquhart sought me out and woke me from the couple hours of
sleep I had managed to nab.  "Sleep is wasted on the best hours
of the day."  He kicked the edge of the cot so I nearly slipped
off.

	Groggily I rolled off the cot.  He bid me to follow him and I
did.  Initially I thought he was taking me to his room.  After
we passed the second corridor that might lead us there I knew
this wasn't true.  "Are we going somewhere in particular?"

	"Out."  He said simply.

	"The car port's that way?"  I stuck my thumb behind me.

	"We're flying."

	"Flying?  I didn't know you guys could fly.  Go on, hover for
me a little."

	He shook his head.  "In a plane."

	"Oh."  Well, he knew how to take the fun out of everything. 
"You don't expect me to-"

	"No, Steve is already inspecting the plane.  He will pilot."

	"Where we going?"

	"Florida."

	"Cool.  I've never been to Disney World.  Can we go?"

	"No."  Damn, I really needed to get this guy to loosen up. 
"Not everything is leisure and fun.  As you no doubt have learnt
by now most of our ventures out of the building are not to
search for new servants or to feed, but business ventures. 
Sometimes we go to talk with investors or companies we will
invest in.  Sometimes we go out to sell a product.  Mostly we go
out to learn.  Tonight we will attend a symposium on
optoelectronic engineering."

	Once upon a time I used to be an engineer, even then I didn't
know anything about optics, that had more to do with physics. 
"So why do I need to go?  Can't I just sleep in the hotel or
something?"

	"I'm afraid I will need you to pay attention as tomorrow you
will be my emissary."

	"No rest for the wicked, eh?"

	"I'm afraid not."

	My surroundings engrossed me too much to think of something
clever to respond with.  I saw the room where I had accidentally
broken a gas pipe and subsequently nearly killed myself.  This
reminded me of the quest I had wanted to take to find what it
was in those pipes and in that other room I had found deep
below.  That seemed ages ago.  I guess it will just have to wait
until later.  I briefly thought about asking Urquhart.  I was
just afraid he would be upset by my asking questions I shouldn't
be.  

	As it was, I fell into a respectful silence and bowed my head. 
We were approaching Erik's room.  I was sorry to see that the
clown no longer occupied the door.  They could have left it as a
memorial to him.  This depressed me and so I didn't say another
word until we entered the hangar.

	Okay, hangar isn't really the word for it but since I don't
know any that would be sufficient it'll have to do.  If you
thought the garage was big, this would blow your mind.  The
types of flying vehicles here were about as diverse as the types
of cars in the garage.  There were several helicopters, many
small prop planes, a few private jets and even a couple that
looked like a modified Concorde.  Some even looked to be
completely experimental.  They were small and lightweight yet
had large engines attached to them.  There was even what looked
to be brightly colored hot air balloons over in a corner.

	Urquhart led me over to the private jet closest to the large
hangar doors.  It already had the staircase rolled up to jet's
open door.  Steve waited for us at the base of it.

	"Everything's ready.  The flight should take about three hours.
 We'll be arriving a little before dusk.  The limo is already
there and ready for your use.  Would there be anything else
before we prepare takeoff?"

	"No thank you."  Urquhart ascended the stairs.

	"Three hours?"  I asked Steve quietly as I started up the
stairs too.  "I thought a flight to Florida would take like 5
hours."

	He winked then turned away.  I took a quick look at the engines
and thought they looked normal.  Then again most things around
here looked so normal.

	I didn't really see much of our takeoff, or the flight for that
matter.  There were no windows except in the cockpit and there
was a solid door between it and us.

	In the cabin there was a bed, which went unused, and half a
dozen or so plush chairs.  Urquhart had immediately occupied
one, turned on the computer next to it and became absorbed in
the screen.  

	My chair too had a computer that I had no interest in.  There
was a small refrigerator, bar, sink and warming oven.  The
lavatory wasn't the cramped style of typical commercial
airliners.  Despite the comfort here I felt a bit nervous.  It
wasn't just not knowing what would meet us in Florida.  This was
the first time I have even seen Urquhart since the last
gathering.

	"Do you really think I'll destroy the clan?"  I blurted.

	He didn't answer.  He continued to stare at the computer screen.

	"What kind of danger can I pose?  I mean I'm just one little
slave.  Even if you people make me one of you, it's not like I'd
have more power than any of you."

	"Perhaps." 

	There's nothing like a noncommittal answer.  "Could you
elaborate?  I'm not trying to hurt anyone you know.  I don't
even want to fulfill the stupid prophecy."

	"There are ways to destroy without intention or physical harm."

	"And that would be?"

	He finally turned away from the computer screen.  "I am not
naive enough to give you ideas on how you might best fulfill
your destiny."

	Something inside me clicked and since this was the first chance
I had to talk with him I asked, "What do you know about the
prophecy?"

	"Nothing."

	"But you just said..."

	"I said nothing of the prophecy.  Nor did I at the gathering." 
He said this before the thought fully formed in my mind.  

	Still he couldn't stop me from saying.  "You talked about the
oraculum, it means...  What were the exact words again?... a
solemn speech or prophecy.  I looked it up."

	Finally he looked at me.  "Yes?"

	"So... Um..."  With his full fledged attention I suddenly felt
as if I was under a microscope.  "Does the danger I pose have to
do with the rest of the-"

	"No."  He said briskly, almost as if he were relieved I didn't
ask something else such as what I asked next.

	"What is the rest of the prophecy?"

	"I can not say."

	"But... you do know... right?"

	"Perhaps."

	"Does it have to do with someone else dying?"

	"Excuse me?"

	"Well, I overheard a conversation one night.  Something about
being rid of someone.  One of them asked if that person was
'Him.'"

	"I'm sorry, I don't quite follow."  How couldn't he?  He could
read my mind no doubt he could hear that conversation in it.  Of
course it wasn't all that clear to me, especially since I had
mostly convinced myself it was a dream.

	"Someone, I could swear was you said the King commanded you to
study the prophecy."

	"I think you have mistaken fallacious visions for reality."

	"How do you know?  Vampires can't see into dreams."

	"I know because there is no other explanation.  I was not
involved in this alleged conversation."  I knew our current
conversation was over when he turned back to the computer screen.

	Two hours had gone by and not only was I bored, but time was
running out if I wanted to get any information out of Urquhart. 
I figured once we were on the ground we'd be too busy to have a
nice little chat.  Oh sure we'd have the entire flight back, but
what if we didn't?  There were many reasons I didn't even want
to think about that.

	Urquhart had been solely occupied by his reading of whatever
was on the computer screen so I felt fairly secure he hadn't
been listening to my thoughts.  So I gave it another go.  "If I
had studied something for two hundred years, I would know
something about it."

	"It has been three hundred and fifty years."

	"Ah, so you do admit it!"  I caught him now.  "It wasn't just a
dream was it?!"

	"This is to remain between the both of us do you understand?" 
I nodded eagerly.  I wondered if the King had the power to stop
him this far away.  "There is more to the prophecy than what you
have been told.  It speaks of another who may instruct the
individual of the first part."  He stopped as if that's all he
would say.

	I had so many questions.  "Who was it you were talking to?  Is
that the person that would instruct me?  Instruct me in what? 
How would you be rid of him?"

	"I can not answer."

	"Can not?  Why not?  Don't you know?"

	"I was directed to tell you this much and no more."  My hopes
fell.  So we were being monitored.

	"Why?"

	"It would equip you with knowledge that could be dangerous."

	"Dangerous how?  You never did answer that." 

	"You will know when the time is right." 

	"You're as bad as Velren."  I muttered thinking of the riddles
he spouted to me last time we met.

	"Who?"

	"Nobody."  I could play coy too.  "So you said you've been
working on the prophecy for 350 years?"

	"Yes?"  He asked skeptically.  I felt a twinge in my head and I
knew he was probing me to see where I was going with this.  I
didn't even know so he had no luck.

	"Didn't you know about it before then?"

	"Yes."  Again he offered nothing.

	"Then who was studying it before you?"

	"Netikerty."  He said knowing I wouldn't recognize the name and
predicting my next question said, "You can not ask question's of
her.  She had all the information in her head."

	"Had?  Where is he now?"

	"She was killed for asking too many questions."  If this wasn't
a hint I didn't know what was.  I needed to back off.  It's just
every time I learn something it raises more questions.  It's so
frustrating.

	Shortly after, Steve's voice came over the speaker and informed
us we'd be starting our decent and should buckle up.



	The blacked out limo was sitting there waiting for us.  I
wondered if he made this trip often to have such special
treatment.  I drove the black limo with its dark windows out of
the hangar into an orange dusk.  As I drove off the airport
grounds I noticed the gate into the private jet area had a
barrier.  They stopped the inward going cars.  

	Stranger still the guard carried an automatic rifle and dressed
in camouflage.  The guard glared our way

	"Um... What's with the guns?"  I asked.  They're not expecting
us are they?"  I hoped I didn't have to protect Urquhart from
them.  I didn't think I'd win.

	"They don't care about us."

	"Then why-"

	"Terrorists."

	I was going to make a quip about him cutting me off but this
took me off guard.  Terrorists were always hijacking planes in
other countries.  Not in America.  I was about to ask when he
told me to just drive past.  The guard didn't even make us slow
down.

	Steve had remained behind with the airplane.  He wouldn't be of
much use where we were going.  I was still vague on where we
were going.  Again, I hesitated to ask.  I didn't even know the
name of the hotel we were to stay at.  I had a GPS system in the
limo that showed me the way.  Soon we started driving over water
and I realized we were headed to the Keys.  Some fool didn't
fill the limo up completely so I decided to stop.  Urquhart was
sound asleep so I didn't have to bother to ask him if it was all
right.

	I filled up the limo and went to the attendant to get my
change.  Inside the small shack I noticed the numerous star
spangled banners lining the shelves.  It just occurred to me
that something was off kilter during the drive.  Most of the
cars I had seen on the road had at least one flag sticking out
its window flapping in the breeze.  "What's with all the flags?" 

	The plump man looked quizically at me.  "Where you from?"

	"Arizona."  I answered not knowing what it had to do with
anything.

	"Don't ya'll show yer patrism thar?  Everon's been flyin' 'em
since 9/11."

	"Nine eleven, what's that?"

	"What?  You been in a hole or sometharn?"

	"Or something."

	"What?  You don't know 'bout them planes?"  I shook my head.
"Osama bin lama?"  Another shake.  "Well dern girl git yerself a
TV.  Can't miss none of that then."

	"Yeah.  Okay."  I cut my conversation short.  

	"Hey, ya'll wanna buy one?  That thar fancy car could use a
couple.  Only five bucks each."

	"The sign says $2."

	"Scarcity's driven the price up."

	"Not this time thanks."  I scaddoodled out of there before he
tried to sell me something else.  I had questions to ask
Urquhart.  He was awake when I started the car.  "Why did we
stop?"  He snapped. 

	"What's 9/11?"  I countered.

	"Do not worry yourself with their trifles."

	"Can't you-"

	"Drive."  I drove.  "Do not stop again unless instructed."  I
didn't pay any attention.  Instead I was about to find out how
strong my telepathy has become.  As far as we were from Arizona
I still had hopes that they wouldn't block me.  Then again if
they couldn't what made me think I could contact one of them?

	More so, someone I've never really tried to before.  I easily
could have tried to get my answers from Bram.  Seen as how I
wasn't speaking to him I had to find someone else.  Therefore,
my next person of choice was Mistress Kama.  This would be a
serious breach in protocol, but I felt it important enough.

	I gently tried reaching out to her.  A quick test to see if I
could even feel her.  A blast of energy greeted me and nearly
knocked me out.  It was something like being in intense light
and spinning in a mixer at its highest speed then getting hit on
head with a huge mallet.

	The limo swerved precariously towards the railing of the
bridge.  This made me come to and I gripped the wheel tight
barely managing to keep the limo on the road.  I wasn't used to
driving such a vehicle, overcompensated and felt it leaning
towards one side.  It nearly went on two wheels.  I steered into
the arc and managed to straighten the damn thing out.  I
suddenly became aware of the honking cars trying to get away
from me.  I slowed my breathing and heartbeat as I tried to make
out what Urquhart was saying.  "What do you think you're doing? 
Can't you drive?  You know better than to try telepathy while
driving.  Pull over."  

	I pulled off to the shoulder still feeling the adrenaline rush
through me.  It gained momentum as I looked how perilously close
we were to the rail and how quickly cars sped by us, their flags
waving at us.  "Please, I just want to understand what's
happening around me."  I begged hoping I sounded pitiful enough
for him to not be upset at me.

	Then it hit me like thunder and a great storm: two smoking
pillars.  I was standing there watching I could hardly breathe. 
Rewound a bit the image started with two tall buildings in New
York and an airplane headed right for them.  Methodically,
unemotionally the images hit me one after another; a plane in
pieces at the bottom of the Pentagon, another in a field
somewhere, people running and screaming, still other's crying
with people supporting them everywhere.  Firefighters and police
came rushing to their aid.  A large flag hung over the rubble in
honor of the fallen. 

	"How horrible."  Was all I could manage.  Here I thought the
flags were all just a fad.  Something that would fade over time.
 No they were there for support for those who were hurt not just
a surge in patriotism.  Now I felt sorry that I hadn't bought
one myself. 	

	The only thing that made it worse was there was no sadness from
the source of the images.  I felt sad that Urquhart had no
feelings about this whatsoever, no sadness, no fear, no anger,
nothing.  "How could you not feel anything for them?  Aren't you
concerned about the world around you?"

	"I've lived thousands of years.  I have seen the rise and fall
of empires and none of it has directly affected me."

	"But what if there's another world war?"

	He laughed.  "That is not something you ever need worry about." 

	"You're not afraid of death?"

	"To quote James Barrie; 'To die will be an awfully big
adventure.'"

	"I guess after few thousand years you're ready for death."

	"Apparently no more than you."  That was the moment that I
realized he wasn't just a stuck up intellectual.  He had a sense
of humor, even if it was a sick one.  He just hid it with years
and years of practice.  Perhaps we could become friends after
all. 

	The trip to the hotel wasn't eventful after that.  I drove more
carefully and paid more attention to my surroundings.  I even
noticed that others drove more courteously than they used to. 
We took only a few minutes to settle into our luxurious suite
overlooking the ocean.  The night was young after all and we had
a symposium to attend.

	Urquhart led me through the hotel to their meeting rooms.  The
remnants of an hors d'oeuvres table sat at the far side of the
hall.  Near a double set of doors was a reception table at which
we signed in.  Apparently we were fashionably late.  The first
speaker was half finished.

	We entered the darkened room that had rows of chairs for
several hundred people.  The speaker stood stiffly behind a
podium clicking through slides while droning on.  Urquhart,
seeing better than I in the dark, spotted us two seats together. 

	I began to take out my notebook, for I wasn't going to remember
half of what this guy said in half an hour let alone tomorrow. 
Urquhart surprised me by placing a hand over my own and
whispered, "Just listen and absorb."

	I opened my mouth to protest Urquhart pointed at the speaker
and shook his head.  I sighed and concentrated on what he was
saying, "Chirped solitary pulses in an elliptically low
birefringent optical fiber when tuned to the frequency of the
MOSC causes displacement of angular velocity."  It sounded like
something straight out of Sabertooth's manual.  He continued
droning on for a little while.

	 "Oh please, they are so far behind they think lasers are only
for cutting skin."  Urquhart scoffed as the speaker finished up.

	I blinked a couple of times trying to understand his words. 
From how I understood the speaker's technobabble he was
proposing lasers for propulsion in space.  Soon though, he
stepped off the stage as the Master of Ceremonies took his
place.  "Thank you Professor Brode.  Now for our key speaker." 
He started spewing off a list of important sounding degrees,
titles and awards the next speaker held.  Urquhart straightened
and seemed to be full of interest in this guy.  "Please welcome
Doctor Adrian Pompi."  I watched the man walk across the small
stage as if he owned it.  He didn't have a scholarly air of
someone with so many titles.  He definitely wasn't like any
engineer I had ever known.  Nor was he a businessman, he was too
casual for that.  I just couldn't categorize what seemed off
about him.

	"Who is this guy?"  I whispered to Urquhart for I got the
distinct impression he was familiar with the man.

	"You have not come to a conclusion?"

	"I don't know, he's just not what I would expect of someone
speaking at a technical conference."

	"Perhaps that is because he is a vampire."  He said never
taking his eyes off the man.

	My head snapped back to Dr. Pompi and I examined him more
closely.  He was a little pale but that could be because of the
lighting.  I couldn't possibly see his teeth from here.  Neither
could have proven him a vampire.  As I well knew their skin
pigment only became pale when they had not feed in a while and
their teeth didn't hang out the sides of their mouths.  It was
just the motions he made, a little smoother and quicker than a
normal human's, that gave him away.

	I learned more that night than I had in my last year of school.
 Still I learned nothing.  I heard words I've never heard
before.  I couldn't make sense of some sentences as they were
just a bunch of jargon I didn't understand.  I could understand
the high level concepts but the details eluded me.  Even had
Urquhart not stopped me from taking notes it would have become a
bunch of random words on a piece of paper.

	Urquhart could have used anyone if he wanted to read my mind to
listen into the lectures the next day, hell he didn't even need
a slave for that.  He could have gotten it straight from the
expert's mind.  If Urquhart thought it was a good idea to take
me as a recorder he would have done better to setup a video
camera.  However, if he thought I'd get something out of this
myself, I had no clue what that was.  Then again, maybe he sent
me for another reason.

	We waited for the crowd to die out before we even thought about
moving from our seats.  I had a feeling Urquhart was waiting for
something.  What it was came to light when  Dr. Pompi appeared
towards the end of the stream of people filing past us.  He
looked directly at us and a chill went down my spine.  When he
approached, Urquhart motioned for me to stand with him and we
greeted the Doctor.  Okay, only Urquhart greeted him.  I was
just a slave there to do as I was told.  They hailed each other
in a friendly yet business like manner.  No doubt they were more
professional colleagues than vampire friends.  They spoke in
more technical lingo that I didn't understand about subjects
varying away from optoelectronics.

	I noticed Dr. Pompi glanced my way every few minutes while
speaking with Urquhart.  Finally Urquhart paused and the Dr.
broke in.  "Excuse me.  I couldn't help but notice this
exquisite creature at your side."  God, that line reminded me of
my first meeting with Keir.  Were all vampires alike?  "I wonder
if I might have the pleasure of tasting such a fine delicacy?" 
Why did they have to use fancy words?  Jeez, just ask if you
could bite me already.

	Urquhart acted as if he just realized I was still there, looked
at me and back to the Doctor.  "Ah, yes, I suppose."  He
motioned towards me, as if disgusted that I was taking time away
from his conversation with the man.

	I glanced around the meeting hall and came to a conclusion we
were completely alone.  Not even a cleanup crew swept the floor.
 Resignedly I lifted my hand to him.  He held it tight as if I
might pull away.  He wrapped his mouth around my wrist and bit
down weakly.  The smooth talk was just an act.  This one had
less self-esteem than I did.  I found myself loosing respect and
interest in him.

	He was nothing like what I expected other vampires to be. 
While within the clan there is great diversity, they average to
be a witty, strong, and self-assured person.  Even Urquhart fell
within this category.  Of course, Bram fit this to a tee.  Bram
whose eyes were filled with intelligence and softness as they
started to squint while he focused on me.  A building full of
tough and clever vampires and he chose me.  Oh sure he spent
time with the others but I was the center of his world.

	"Antoniette.  Time to leave."

	"Huh?"  I hadn't realized that Dr. Pompi had left.  How long
had I been standing there like that?

	It must not have been long for the door to the side of the
stage swung shut and he didn't act annoyed that I hadn't
answered.  We walked back to our room and I was hoping to get a
little rest.  Instead when the door shut behind us and I flopped
onto the bed Urquhart started quizzing me.  "Multiplexed lasers
on a sub carrier is also referred to as..."

	"Dreams."

	"Antoniette, if you are to represent me tomorrow you must be
familiar with these things."

	"If I am to represent you I need to be awake, which I won't be
if I don't sleep now."  Okay, I didn't really say that.  Instead
I answered his question, "Optical beat interference."  It
surprised me that I actually knew the answer to that.  Guess I
had soaked in a little more than I thought.

	He didn't stop there.  Every time I answered incorrectly he
just asked me again and again until I dredged the answer from
memory.  By the time the curtains began to lighten I felt fairly
confident I could at least not look like an idiot at the meet
and greet.  

	That is if I did something to hide the bags under my eyes.  As
I looked in the mirror I realized the bags were the least of my
worries.  I hadn't realized I had a large bruise on my cheek and
a small red scratch on my chin.  Not to mention the scars from
the bite marks on my neckline.  I should do something to fill
out the hallows and bony structure that was now my face.  I
sighed.  This would take a while no time for even a short nap.

	"What are you doing?"  He asked.  

	I shook myself from staring at that horrible visage.  I grabbed
the concealer and started to dot it around my eyes.  "Putting on
makeup."

	"Why?"

	Why indeed.  What a silly question.  "To make me attractive to
Dr. Pompi."  I answered sarcastically.

	"He will not be there."

	I knew that, if Urquhart couldn't go, how could another
vampire?  "People might ask questions about the bruises."  In
all honesty it was more because I was self conscious about how I
would look to an outsider.  In the complex everyone had bruises
and scars, it was natural.  Here on the other hand I would
receive strange looks and yes, questions as well.  What would I
say?  "I fell down the stairs."  No one ever believes that. 
More likely they'd think someone abused me and while I had been,
I didn't like people thinking I would let that happen to me. 
Not to mention the attention it might draw to the vampires.

	I knew Urquhart understood this as it passed quickly through my
mind.  He raised an eyebrow and walked away.  I made sure to not
put on too much makeup.  I wouldn't want criticism either.

***

	"Antoniette Aloise?"  No one could know me here.  There was no
possible way anyone from my life before the vampires could have
made it all the way to Florida and be smart enough to understand
half as much as I did.  Yet someone called my name.  

	I had made it through a few more boring speeches and was now
attending the reception.  I had begged Urquhart to allow me to
skip it.  I lost the argument.  Most of the talk at this
reception had been about the recent attacks.  I listened with
interest but didn't take any part in the conversations.  That's
why it startled me when someone knew who I was. 

	I swiveled and found Professor Benjamin Brode himself standing
before me with his hand out.  I had had plenty of time to study
his features as he droned on about laser technology for two
hours.  He was tall with a full head of black hair and large
sideburns that stuck out prominently on his oval face.  "You are
Ms. Aloise are you not?"

	"I am."

	"Excellent, Mr. Dominick described you well."

	Mr. Dominick?  Urquhart used an alias?  At my confused
expression he continued.  "Mr. Dominick explained to me by phone
that he couldn't make it and sent you in his stead."

	"Yes, of course.  It is an honor to meet you.  Your lecture was
very enlightening."

	"Is that a pun?"  He asked in all seriousness.

	"No."

	"Too bad."  His lips curved up and I saw his eyes move up and
down my body.  I stiffened slightly.  Somehow I knew what was
coming next.

	"You look exquisite this evening."

	"Thank you."  Still unused to compliments, I blushed despite
myself, especially those coming from nonvampires.  I couldn't
stop thinking he was lying, how could he miss the unhealthy skin
and skeletal hands.  

	He wiggled his eyebrows at me.  He was definitely a player. 
Bram would never have done that.  Bram would never be so
arrogant to believe he was already halfway down my pants. 

	"So what kind of work do you do?"

	While Urquhart didn't quiz me on this I had a halfway honest
answer ready.  "I'm a hardware design engineer."

	"Beautiful and smart."

	I should have just dropped him right there.  Something made me
keep going, I think it was an urge to show off the manipulation
skills Kama had taught me and play the player.  "Why thank you,
you're quite smart yourself."

	"Yes, well I don't like to brag but I wasn't chosen out of a
hundred experts to speak today for nothing."

	Somehow I couldn't believe with all that's happened to these
people recently that he'd still be so conceded and concerned
with getting a date.  You'd think he'd have more to worry about.

	I guess it just goes to show certain aspects of human nature
can't be suppressed under hard times.  Bram could not use this
excuse for his behavior.  There was no major disaster that
warranted him kidnapping me.  

	"I'm having lunch at L'Chateau de fondue.  I'm sure you'd like
to join me."  

	Sounds expensive.  As much as I'd hate to spend time with this
guy, I figured I might as well get a free meal in style.  

	He took me to his brand new Mercedes' and gentlemanly swooped
the door open for me.  As we drove past several low buildings I
couldn't help imagining those tall buildings crumbling down to
their size.  People must have run in terror.  At least they had
somewhere to run.  I remembered Kenneth and my interception of
him when he tried to run.  Being trapped in a confined space I
think is much more frightening.  I wondered how many people had
been trapped in those buildings before they collapsed.

	Since I wasn't talking that much, Professor Brode turned on the
radio.  The DJs talked about the President sending troops to
Afghanistan.  "Bah, let's see if we can get something more 
appeasing on."  I didn't mind.  For the first time I was glad I
had been isolated from the rest of the world and the horrible
things going on in it.

	"So, has anyone ever told you, you have the most wonderful
eyes?"  I had to keep myself from laughing.  It sounded so much
like one of Bram's corny lines and was so out of place.  I
wondered if every guy kept a stack of them handy for this sort
of occasion. 

	We arrived and seated almost immediately.  I couldn't help but
noticed a large black woman seated at the next table gorging
herself on a large chunk of lettuce, more than any rabbit could
eat.  I thought she would choke.  The salad dressing slid from
it and down the fork like a melting ice cap.

	Hmm...  A salad did sound good.

	I wasn't really focused on Mr. Brode, my mind was still
wandering.  I vacantly stared past him as I did so the woman
across from me looked in my direction.  It happened often enough
I wondered if I had a piece of lettuce stuck in my teeth.  Or
perhaps my hair or clothes were so out of style and I looked
preposterous sitting in this respectable restaurant like this. 
I began to feel rather self conscious and briefly examined her
and the other girls that sat with her.  Their dresses were not
too frilly nor very loud in color.  Of course I was wearing a
pants outfit so I couldn't really compare the two.  The vampires
didn't make too much of an effort to stay in style but this
clothing seemed neutral enough not to stick out.

	I had allowed him to pull out the seat for me and gingerly
place a napkin on my lap.  I even let the Professor order for
both of us.  I just hoped he ordered something that didn't
involve invertebrates.  Even if he did, I guess I would use the
etiquette taught me and at try them.  He began to talk about his
work and how "fascinating" it was.  I listened for a short time
and managed to nod and say "Yes, I agree." in all the right
places.

	I found it hard to concentrate.  Mr. Brode droned on and the
thought of those buildings falling kept popping into my head.  I
felt like running, to go and hide somewhere safe.  That wasn't
an option.  There were guards everywhere watching for anything I
might do or say that would show I would betray my country.  If
they stopped me would I be forced to betray something else?

	My eyes floated but didn't see.  I was back in the vampire
complex and Bram sat across from me.  I found myself happy to
see him. I pursed my lips thinking of how sweet his kiss was.  I
could almost feel his five o'clock shadow on my lips.  I would
not betray him, just as I knew he had not and would not ever
betray me.

	He leaned in and whispered in my ear.  "Antoniette?"

	"Huh?"  I blinked to attend Professor Brode who had really
spoken.

	"I was asking if you had heard any good stories lately?"

	"No."  I hoped it wasn't too obvious that I had been day
dreaming.

	"I've got plenty.  Stop me if you've heard this before.  This
vampire walks into a bar sees several humans playing dice."  He
watched my reaction.  Nope hadn't heard it before.  "He takes a
burly man aside buys him a drink and tells him how to win the
game by changing the rules."  Another pause.  I was half
listening as a surfer caught my attention.

	Okay, I didn't know if he was a surfer but he had a fabulous
tan and long blonde hair.  He was well dressed in a business
suit not the normal Hawaiian shirt one would expect of a surfer.
 He was standing directly behind the woman who had shoved the
lettuce down her throat.  Since Brode was in the direct line of
sight I felt safe in looking at the hard body without thinking I
wasn't paying attention to him.  Good thing the girls at the
other table didn't see him this way I could imagine he was all
mine.  I wished I was free to get up and go talk to him.  Alas
the vampires wouldn't have it.  To have a relationship outside
the complex was strictly forbidden.  I wasn't even sure having
dinner with Brode wouldn't be frowned upon.  Not like the
vampires weren't a bit promiscuous themselves.

	It was my fault after all.  I mean Bram wouldn't have felt the
need to be with someone else had I not pushed him away so many
times.  How could I not expect him to after how I've treated
him?  He's done nothing but love me and I held back my love for
him.

	"Then the vampire said, 'Bloody humans.'"  He guffawed.  I
chuckled a little to appease him. "Speaking of blood suckers." 
He went on to tell some rather bad lawyer jokes.  Bloody humans
indeed.  If I treated the vampires half as well as they treated
me I wouldn't be as stressed as I am now.

	He glanced at his watch.  "I'm sorry, I have another
appointment.  I would like to continue our conversation about
optical parametric oscillators later if you're available." 
Translation, he'd like to get me in bed.  He then wrote
something on the back of a business card.  "This is where I'm
staying.  Perhaps you can join me around 7pm?"

	"Ok."  I said noncommittally.

	He seemed to think I was interested and enthusiastically said,
"Great."  He stood, rounded the table and pulled out my chair
for me.

	Finally the meal was over.  All in all it wasn't a total loss. 
Brode had talked almost the entire time so I learned a few
things.

	After we passed the table with the girls I overheard one of
them say, "Thank God, they're leaving.  That biatch is
disgusting staring at me like that."

	I couldn't help laughing.  What they perceived couldn't be
further from the truth.  What they didn't know wouldn't hurt
them I guess.  Then I spotted the surfer dude.  He too was on
his way out.  "Well Professor Brode it's been grand.  Thanks for
dinner."  Then in full view of the girls who had their back to
me during the meal I walked up to the hunk and put my arm
through his.  "Hi."  I said with all the confidence I didn't
feel.

	To my utter amazement he didn't back off in horror.  "Hey
bunny.  Wicked place, yeah?"

	"Yeah."  

	"How 'bout we jet to the sandbox?"  

	I had some time to kill before sunset, "Why not?"

	"Gnarly."  Then he kissed me on the cheek.  While I had no
plans to stick with this guy it was all worth the gasp that came
from the nearby table.  The look of disgruntlement that passed
over the face of the chick I was supposedly checking out was
classic.  Not to mention Ben Brode's dropped jaw was comical.

	I felt guilty though.  Not because I was using this guy, but
because it should be Bram wrapped around my arm not this loser. 
Poor Bram, I have been hard on him.  I was wrong; a person's
heart can remain with another despite who they were with at that
moment.  Maybe I should apologize. 

	The blonde stud drove me in his broken down convertible.  It
was much nicer than that Mercedes.  A small board stuck out of
the back seat and banged along as we whipped around corners.  

	It didn't take much for me to ditch the surfer dude.  I never
even learned his name.  His buddies were already at the beach
playing volleyball.  "Yo!"  He called to them from the car.  He
stripped down to his swim trunks.  I was right; he did have a
fine hard body.  Before I knew it he grabbed his board and ran
off towards the water.  Halfway down the beach he waved for me
to join him.  He didn't wait for me to respond.  He was down the
pier and hooking up to a line of rope trailing from a small boat
when I walked to the edge of the sand.  I thought better of it. 
Bram would have never left me like that.

	I watched him wake board for some time.  He really was quite
good flipping around on the waves and ramps.  After a while his
turn was over and he ran for the volleyball game.  He didn't
even give half a thought to me.  I didn't care.  

	The ocean was so calming.  There were some gulls floating
overhead the dimming rays reflected off the water onto their
bellies giving them an orange hue.  Children playing in the
distance giggled, ran and fell in the dirt then giggled some
more.  The sound of the water lazily lapping against the shore
and the breeze soothed me.  The water undulating was somewhat
hypnotizing and I swayed along with it.

	I shivered as the strong wind whipped my hair into my face.  I
reluctantly removed my freezing hand from my pocket to move it. 
I turned into the wind just to avoid this.  That may have been a
mistake for now my nose was colder than ever.  Bram's long arms
would do nicely to be wrapped around me right now.  At least the
slave Urquhart had pack for me was smart enough to put in a warm
jacket to go with the thin dress I was wearing.

	The sand was white and looked a little coarse but inviting.  I
wanted to take my shoes off and bury my toes in it.  If I did
that my little toes might get too cold.  These beach bums must
be crazy.  They ran into the water to get the ball without a
second thought.  The water had to be in the low 60's.  I wonder
why they didn't worry about freezing their toes off.

	I watched the first tinge of orange along the horizon turn to
red.  I knew then that I really did miss Bram.  I mean something
that had the potential to be beautiful like this, he would stand
by my side holding me until long past the final ray of light had
disappeared.  Of course he couldn't have been there in the first
place without a very good sun screen.

	Staring at the vast ocean made me feel small and alone.  The
beachgoers lit a bonfire more for the light than the heat as the
game kept going.  No doubt I was already forgotten.  The rough
edges of a card in my pocket rubbed against my fingertips. 
Maybe I didn't need to be alone right now after all.

	I learned from a passerby that Brode's beach house wasn't too
far from where I was so I hiked along the roadside.  There were
several small bungalows in a resort setting surrounded by trees
and sand.  It was dark now but they were well lit and I found it
easily enough.  At least I thought it was the right one, except
there was another woman standing outside the door.

	I recognized her as one of the people from the reception and
guessed the Professor had already set up another play date.  I
was a half hour early for my "appointment" after all.  I began
to turn around to leave her to him when she called to me.  "Um,
excuse me, are you here to see the Professor?"

	My shoulders fell.  I didn't really want to explain anything. 
Problem was I just couldn't ignore her.  "Yes."

	"I've been knocking for nearly fifteen minutes and he's not
answering.  Perhaps if you were to call to him he might respond?"

	"Maybe he's not home."  I suggested.

	"No, he's definitely in there.  I heard movement a little while
ago."

	"Maybe he's just in the shower."

	"I haven't heard water running."  Really can't hear water
running?  What did she think that big wet thing was over my
shoulder?  I blew it off and walked up the steps to greet her,
"I'm Antoniette."

	"Monica."  She didn't offer her hand but tried peering in the
little window at the top of the door.

	I knocked.  "Professor Brode?  It's Antoniette Aloise.  Are you
there?"

	There was no answer.  I put my ear to the door and didn't hear
a thing.  Then I tried wiggling the handle.  It wouldn't budge. 
I knew I wasn't carrying anything I could use to pick it.  "Do
you have a paper clip or something small I could pick this with?"

	"No."  She said disgustedly.  "That's illegal."

	"Then I don't suppose you have a phone we can try calling him
with do you?"

	"I have a phone but there's no reception out here.  I've
already tried it."

	"Is there a pay phone?"  She only shrugged.  Of course she
wouldn't know.  I backed up and looked at the cottage.  There
were several windows all covered by curtains.  "Have you tried
any of the windows?"

	"Not in these heels!"  She said pointing to her stilettos then
to the soft sand.  I kicked mine off and relished for a short
moment the feel of the sand between my toes.  The softness made
me wish I could stand there for hours.  I tried looking in the
closest window to no avail.  It would not move for me when I
tried to open it.  I moved on and it wasn't until I was at the
back of the cottage that I found one that was slightly open. 
"Professor?"  I called.  There was no answer.  It easily opened
the rest of the way and I clambered in.  "Professor Brode?"  I
called hoping I didn't scare the shit out of him.  It was silent
as graveyard in there and I got a chill down my back.  Something
was definitely wrong.  I hurried to the front room as I had
fallen into the kitchen.

	I screeched to a stop and closed my eyes hoping I was just
dreaming.  I opened them again and muttered, "Oh no, not again."

	"What?  What is it?"  Monica could obviously hear me though the
thin walls.  Should I tell her or spare her from this disaster? 
Maybe she would panic and blame me?  Then again it might just
teach her a lesson about running around with strange men.  I
know it certainly had my attention.

	"Antoniette?"  Well, I guess I should let her in.  In hindsight
I shouldn't have touched the door knob, but I wasn't exactly
thinking clearly.  When the door opened before her she looked at
me for an explanation.  I pointed to the ground.  I should have
plugged my ears for I knew what was about to come; a screeching
wail. 

	After the ringing in my ears stopped, I heard her ask, "Is he
dead?"

	No, the pool of blood is someone else's and he wears makeup to
look that pale normally.  I didn't have the guts to say that. 
"I think so."  Strange though I didn't see any teeth marks.  I
was sure he had been bit as there wasn't enough blood to justify
any other means.  

	"Shouldn't you check his pulse or something?"

	"Me?  I'm not touching him."  Maybe she was trying to frame me.
 How did I know she hadn't already been in here and I caught her
coming out?  I was fairly sure he was dead.  I had seen that
vacant expression before.

	Maybe she knew what I was thinking for she asked, "What did you
mean by 'not again'?  You've seen this before?"

	"This is the second time this year I've found a dead body."

	"You didn't... I mean you couldn't have..."  She gulped then
whispered, "Killed him?"

	"No, did you?"

	"Lord no, I just got here."

	"Me too.  Did you see anyone else around?"  

	"No.  What do we do now?"  Was this woman completely helpless?

	"Call the police of course."  I looked at the phone on the
counter near the kitchen.  No, I wasn't touching a thing in
here.  My mind was whirling.  Of course I could incriminate
myself then the police arrest me and then I'd be safe from the
vampires.  Yeah, right.  "We'll need to find a pay phone."  I
rushed her outside.

	The moment the door closed behind us Monica said blankly to me,
"Who are you."

	 "Of course."  I hissed under my breath.  Whoever killed him
was watching us and had erased her memory of this.  Why wasn't
mine?  "I'm Antoniette."  Think, think fast girl.  "Listen the
Professor is really sick, seems he ate some bad fondue at
dinner.  He asked me to tell you he'd see you tomorrow."

	"Maybe I can help.  I took some nursing courses."

	"No, no, he just needs to sleep."  For a very long time.  I
took her elbow and walked her down the path to the parking lot. 
She went willingly.

	After her car pulled out of the lot I sat on the thick wood
fence and stared at the bungalow and the ocean beyond it.  I
wondered if Urquhart had planned this?  Did he expect me to
leave the body there for someone else to find, or was I supposed
to do as I had with Erik and take it to a safe place.  I just
didn't know where a safe place was.

	Before I had left him I had asked Urquhart where I should meet
him.  He said he would find me and so I decided to wait for him.
 I don't know how long I sat there staring into the darkness. 
The quiet stillness mesmerized me.  Only the sound of water
could be heard and an occasional car in the distance on the
Overseas Highway.  It couldn't have been more than a half hour
before a hand dropped on my shoulder.

	I jumped.  "It's only me."  Urquhart said softly.

	"Are you responsible for that?"

	"For making her forget, yes, for killing that craven foul
mouthed pig, no.  Nor can I say I am perturbed for that sicarius
deserved death."

	"Sicarius?  He was a hunter?!"  God, I knew he was a player but
this?  I didn't even see it coming.

	"You didn't know?  You must learn to identify them, for your
own safety."  Yeah, well I was planning to leave that until I
was a vampire, at least then I could read the hunter's mind and
know what he was.

	"How was I supposed to know?"

	Urquhart began walking up the path away from the cottage.  I
looked back whistly.  We shouldn't just leave him like that. 
"He was one of the sicari that attacked our home."  

	I wracked my mind.  I certainly didn't remember him being one
of them.  Then again I was kind of focused on their leader.  I
only knew he wasn't the one who killed Erik because he looked
nothing like what I could see of the one in the video.  

	"If you didn't kill him, who did and why?"

	"Another vampire." 

	"He was killed just for being a hunter?" 

	"I do not know, nor do I care." 

	"So what will happen with him?"  He was being extremely patient
answering all my questions.

	"Others will dispose of the body.  There will be no traces of
vampirism or your interference there."

	"My...?"  Of course, people can witness I was one of the last
people to see him alive and my prints would be all over his door
and kitchen window.  Yet again I had screwed up.  I breifly
wondered if I had been set up to fail.  Why else wouldn't
Urquhart have warned me he was a hunter?

	It was a long walk back to our hotel.  I wanted to hail a taxi
he refused.  So I kept an eye out for wild beasts as well as the
reptilian variety.  There was quite a bit of a night life here,
which surprised me in a way, after all I always thought the
Florida Keys was the middle of nowhere.  We were invisible to
those talking loudly and dancing at the outside bars.  I would
have like to spend some time with people who weren't fuddy duddy
scientists.  Alas, it was not Urquhart's kind of crowd.  I could
easily picture Mistress Kama, or even Keir hanging out with
these humans and trying to seduce them.  Heck this entire trip
would be different with anyone other than Urquhart.

	Once we arrived at the hotel, Urquhart informed me I was to
pack and prepare the limo.  After returning from a trip to the
limo, Urquhart asked of me, "Can I have my package now?"

	"What package?"

	"The one Ben Brode slipped into your purse."

	I squinted at him, when could he possibly have the chance to do
that?  My bag was in my possession the entire time.  Yet when I
reached in and dug around I found a small wooden box that hadn't
been there earlier.

	Urquhart gently took it from me and opened it.  He sifted the
dark powder a bit then took a small pinch and placed it on his
tongue.  His eyes rolled back into his head.  He was in ecstasy.
 "He never fails to disappoint in this at least.  Too bad I have
to find a new supplier now."  His calmness flabbergasted me.

	"Drugs?!  You pulled me all the way out to Florida to pickup
stinking drugs?"  

	"High quality opium."

	"You realize what could have happened to me had a cop seen me?"

	"Absolutely nothing."  He said nonchalantly.  Of course, just
as the murder didn't happen.  He had no morals at all.  Sadly I
was becoming resigned to this and didn't argue the point.  

	Maybe I was just too tired to argue.  I sighed, "You're how old
and haven't learned drugs are bad for you?"

	"Relax.  Some drugs stimulate brain activity.  Sherlock Holmes
used cocaine."

	"Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character.  And that was back
when they thought it was harmless.  Meanwhile you're killing
brain cells."

	"That's the beauty of being a vampire just as every other cell
they too are regenerated."  He seemed suddenly energized and was
looking at me in a way I didn't particularly like but had become
accustomed to with these vampires.  I prepared myself for his
assault.  I even moved closer to the bed so I'd have a cushioned
fall.  He threw me for a loop when he asked, "Did you already
take my books to the limo?"  For he had brought many to read
during the day.  I blinked and nodded.  "Well then, we should
get going."

	He wasn't even going to bite me?  Was I a leper or something?  

	"Can I at least take a nap before hand?  I've been awake for
two days and you don't want me driving."

	"No."  He opened the door.

	"Okay, but remember if I drive off the bridge it's not suicide."

	The drive was uneventful.  I managed to keep my eyes open. 
Though I had a couple close calls that got my adrenaline running
through my veins to wake me a bit more.  The guards at the
airport, unsurprisingly, waved us through without a search. 
Even suspicious looking limos at 3am can get through a blockade
if a telepathic vampire is on board.

	Steve took our luggage onto the plane and once we were in the
air I collapsed on the bed.  I fell into a restless and fitful
sleep.  The ghostly shapes of collapsing buildings gave way to
screams and all sense of security disappeared.  I woke in a
start only to find the plane hitting some turbulence.  Urquhart
was engrossed in the computer and did not heed me.  I tried to
sleep again and this time found my dreams haunted by voices. 
"Ideas are dangerous."  I could not see who spoke them.

	"And lead her to the true path."  It was a maze in here that I
had to negotiate.

	Large bushes weaved in and out of boulders. 

	"He will rise in darkness."  The cave reverberated the words.

	"I will be rid of you."  The voices started to dim.

	"He was going to kill you."  Was it all the same voice or many
different ones it was so hard to tell.

	I ran faster to keep up with them.  "What is a biatch?"  Around
corners.  "You didn't know he was a hunter?"  Over piles of
rocks.  "You brought him straight to us."  Wading through slime.

	I smacked nose first into a dead end.  "Bloody humans."