No Trail

Chapter 1

Her shoes made squashing sounds with every step.

The legs of her leather pants had come apart, at the seams, on both sides. Every few miles, shed reach down, pull them up, and check for leeches.

Leather was good for fighting and protecting the skin against abrasions, but it was terrible in the mountains moist atmosphere.

A silvery line across the sky made the heavy mist, through which she walked, bright. In most places, this

was a good thing, but, in the mountains of Transylvania, the fog was so thick that brightening it made it harder for her to see the path ahead.

The ground was so soaked with dew that it sucked at her rubber heels with every step, pulling at their threads. It wouldnt be long before they split open, just like her pants.

Starr stopped and checked her GPS, but her phone, which wasnt satellite, was still not working. She hoped she was still headed east because she was getting weary. The fables liked to say that her kind had inexhaustible strength, but it wasnt so. After a day of trudging the off beaten path of the rocky Carpathian Mountains, and a night slept in a tree the only dry place she could find to rest in -, her back hurt and her limbs felt heavy like gummy worms.

Up ahead she saw a dewy marsh and, though it occurred to her that she could be making a big mistake, she set one foot in while keeping her other on the sturdier ground. After a short jig to test her weight on the mud, she brought her other foot over, but, just as she set it down on the mud, she sank all the way up to her knees.

Expletives echoed around her for hundreds of feet. She never thought shed feel frustration ever again, as her kind lost their ability to feel complex emotions after being turned, but, at that moment, she felt like she could have cried. What she would have given for a hot cup of coffee, a goat brain and egg

scramble with a fresh bloody heart garnish, cut like a kiwi, and a side of buttered toast. She tried to lift her right leg but it was no good; as soon as she added extra weight to her left leg, she sank down another half foot.

Reaching behind her, she felt the sturdy ground. Slowly, she heaved her body upward and back until she was sitting on the bank of the marsh. As she sat a moment, something warm and hot ran down her face.

Guess Im not as tough as people think, she said aloud.

Over and over again, she went back to considering the events of the night before last, when she left Madam Balaji and her companions at the Castel de Negru. Kind though they were to

Starr, she couldnt associate with them because of what they did at the party. Images she wished she could forget replayed themselves in her mind: naked men and women running through the labyrinth; vampires chasing them, terrorizing them, and then feeding on them. Yes, Starr was one to enjoy a hunt, now and again. True, their kind lived on fear, but there had to be limits, morals. Starr may have made some mistakes in the past, but shed never ever preyed on an innocent man or woman.

And what about the German albino, Kris? Why did he fly all the way from Boston to Romania simply to give her the pin that got her access to the labyrinth? Why didnt he just tell her what they were up to?

Then there was Lucenzo, another old vampire from Boston; she knew hed set her up from the beginning. After all, it was he who slipped her her beloved ruby studded sickles, with which she beheaded an entire gang of Gypsy vampires, just nights before, and what was now resting in the leather hooks shed sewn into her jacket. Lastly, somehow, hed found out that Starr had come to Romania, and hed had his brother keep a close eye on her.

Oh well, she thought, she didnt have time to brood about it now. For now, it was more important that she find The Council.

The Council was an organization headed by, mostly, lawful vampires. By lawful, it is meant that they enforced others, like themselves, to oblige human law, and when they didnt, The Council made sure they remained

anonymous. If vampires showed any signs of being reckless, they did so at the risk of being exterminated by Council members. Unfortunately, the head of the so-called Council, Louisa Credenza, claimed that she would indenture Starr, whether she wanted it or not, and it was for that reason she was there, in Transylvania, Romania: to find out what The Councils and Credenzas plans, for Starr, were. Unfortunately, her plans to learn more about The Council didnt go so well. When she arrived in Sibiu, Transylvania County, she learned that some sort of war was going on between groups of vampires who were more civilized and groups who, like the Castel de Negru, still liked to practice savagery.

Through the thick fog, she picked up the scent of a squirrel. She

continued over a slick wedge and stepped over a log. There it was, burying a nut in the ground, next to a tree, barely standing out against the white of the fog; its beady eyes, black and piercing. Starr was struck by its beauty: she reached out and snatched it up with lizard-like reflexes. It was a Brevardian squirrel, and they were popular in that area. With snowy-white fur and a small narrow head, some thought they were albinos, but they werent.

At first, she intended to drain it until its little arteries imploded, but as she observed its black eyes, little pink tongue and white teeth, she lost her desire.

Gently, Starr put the squirrel down and watched it return to padding dirt over the nut.

A shallow yet wide stream ran before her. Someone had half buried a round log across it. She stepped onto it and kept her balance until about halfway, when she slipped off into the ice cold water. Not that Starr was affected by cold anymore, but she still felt it; that and she was sick of being wet.

AAAAAaaaaggghhhh!!! she screamed angrily.

As she climbed up the other side of the stream, her right shoe became severely waterlogged, making it unable to hold its leather sole any longer, and split in half.

She pulled both boots off and threw them with a temper.

Just after the sun had fully risen, she heard it: the voices that Madam Balaji, of the Castel de Negru, told her to follow. She didnt have far to walk, for over the next steep incline, she found her journey was, finally, at an end. Tension, all over her body, relinquished its grip as she breathed relief.

Nestled, down, in a bowl-shaped valley, stood an enormous grey stone castle; it was encircled by a twenty foot stone wall, and completely surrounded by the mountains.

Unlike the tight, cramped little castles shed seen on the Dracula tours, this was as magnificent as a

palace, as tall as the Big Bear Mountain and wide as a theme park. Its structure was much more reminiscent of the Middle Ages, with its simplified square structure and few windows. It had none of the cylindrical towers and conical roofs that the other renaissance castles of Transylvania had. There was an enormous plain, square structure that made up the center of the castle, and on top of it was a landing strip. Surrounding the center structure was four, equally plain, square top roofs, and on each was a helipad.

From several places in the castle, she smelled food and coffee being prepared. As she remembered on one of her castle tours, sometimes these larger ones housed entire cities, so they often had multiple kitchens. Using her ability to see happenings in other places, a sort of

extra sensory perception shed gained after being turned, she scanned various parts of the castle. In one enormous room, she saw towering book cases and leather couches. In others, she saw people working in offices, and entering data into computers. Another room, people were steam cleaning curtains. Somewhere on the side, opposite to where she stood, was a lot of strong discussion. She turned her focus to the room and, in her mind, saw a dozen people in suits sitting at a round, thick, wood table. A man with a rich head of chocolate brown hair appeared to be heading the discussion: his laptop was opened, and its desktop was projected on the wall behind him. The others listened, intently, to him speaking.

Then he suddenly stopped talking.

Bulgari, one of the residents of the Castel de Negru, warned her that she needed to learn how to close her mind, if she wanted to glean thoughts while remaining undetected. Unfortunately, in her weary state, she forgot to cloak herself, but they didnt seem angry that she was spying on them. On the contrary, Starr got the feeling that they were expecting her.

A second later, she knew her feeling was right, for the man who seemed to be the leader of the meeting said, Starr is here. The other vampires murmured to each other.

Come down, Starr.

The man spoke to her telepathically.

We have been expecting you.

Relieved to be accepted without question, she walked, quickly, down the grassy hill.

Perhaps theyd let her take a shower? Give her some good, strong coffee?

She ran up the two dozen steps to the large grey double doors. Right as she was about to press the little black ringer, it opened.

There, to greet her, were a dozen people, mostly men. They all

appeared to be in their twenties and thirties, yet gave off an aura of being much, much older. With heads held high and dignified, they, silently, observed her inglorious state.

Come in, said the man, who headed the meeting, sympathetically, as he looked her up and down.

The entrance hall was the size of an amphitheater. Shined up suits of armor and wrought iron candles lined both sides of the wall. Above them hung old Persian rugs, plain cloths of royal purple and red, and faded canvas that looked to have been written on centuries ago. In the middle of the hall, hung an enormous wood and wrought iron chandelier; where once there were candles, now held candelabra bulbs.

My name is Blakely, the man bowed. This is and he began a long introduction, but, with the state that she was in, she forgot the names as quickly as he said them. We have a room, he continued, and Im sure you probably would like a chance to freshen up? Yes, said Starr somberly. Thank you.

The man led her further into the entrance hall where, looking up, she saw multiple landings above her. Past more suits of armor; past cases of battleaxes, spiked flails, swords and shields, they went until they reached a staircase, on the left side of the hall, wide enough to accommodate several elephants standing side-by-side.

The steps creaked a little, here and there, as they climbed its thick, red carpeted planks. When they approached the first landing, they went right, to the other end, and climbed another staircase.

Starr followed the man right, again and again. Looking upward, she counted ten landings.

How many people live here? There are fifty of us who are here, year round, taking care of Council business, or taking care of the castle, but we have many visitors. At one time, we had over 1,000 guests staying here: the millennial ball, 1,000 A.D. Are you the oldest vampire alive? No, there are quite a few others who are older.

They reached the fourth landing and went right, past the set of stairs, to the end of the hall.

From his pocket, he pulled out a little card and entered a code into a little numeric pad embedded below the door handle.

Here is your number, memorize it, he handed her the card.

Although the halls of the castle were sterile, like a monastery, the room reminded her of an Oxford fashion style, with a plain yet luxurious dcor. In the middle of the room was a set of chocolate brown leather couches with dark green pillows, facing an electric fireplace and flat screen television that hung on the wall.

To the right, was a large wine colored canopied bed.

We were wondering whatever happened to you.

Starr walked over and set her bag on the long, oak coffee table. Then she walked to the opposite end of the room and found, to her left, a large stone bathroom.

What happened? she asked. Did the guy, you had follow me, not do such a good job? She spotted the unknown man tailing her the moment she boarded the plane to Sibiu. You know, Starr, Credenza sent the man you attacked to help you, in case you got into trouble.

She never had much patience for manipulation, which, clearly, the unknown man was trying to do, so she tried to crush his throat on the bar, right next to her delicious pesce soup. When Starr was about to argue with Blakely, he cut her off with, You may have noticed that things are not pleasant, here, in the vampire world. You are lucky, in that, youve only run into Madam Balaji and her lovers, but you could have met much worse. Well, I can take care of myself. Oh, really? By killing an entire gang of Gypsies? You think you wont pay for that? They attacked me! Starr said edgily. If you come after me, for that, I will fight you to the death. Im not saying that we hold what you did against you, but Im saying that others will. You do not seem to understand how little law there is, when dealing in our world. Up until now, youve been safe and secure,

but, here, piss off the wrong vampires, and you will make enemies for life. Considering how long your life will be, you might want to be careful, even when defending yourself, for, do you really want to spend eternity looking over your shoulders? Wondering whos plotting their revenge against you? When Starr did not reply, he continued, However, battles are, sometimes, unavoidable, unless you go into real seclusion. Otherwise, you need friends, family, and associates: people to back you up, if you will. So, what? If I ally myself with you, youll protect me from being avenged upon? Tuh! she spat. Im not buying it. What do you really want from me? Im not sure what you mean, he said, looking her straight in the eyes. Surely, you know Credenza said shed be back for me, and that I couldnt refuse her.

Credenza is on a journey, and Im not sure when shell be back. Whatever business she has with you, I am unaware of it. I am merely offering you a place with The Council, which you dont have to accept. I appreciate it, but no. I just want to be left alone, and that is why Ive come. Leave me and my friends out of your troubles. We have enough of our own. But something about the way he looked away, and nodded his head, told her he wasnt going to do as she asked, just yet. Well, clapping his hands together, I must be getting back to work. You should have everything you need, here, but, if not, dial zero on your phone, the way you would at a hotel. With the exception of special holidays and events, we serve buffets in the main dining hall. Breakfast is served at 9:30 every day, lunch at 1 p.m., and dinner at 7 p.m. There is much to do, in this castle, he said matter-of-factly, as

he pulled up a piece of paper that lay on the middle of the coffee table. This is a map of the castle and the grounds, he held the paper in front of him. Along the side here, he pointed with his finger, youll see all the house amenities: pool, gym, bowling alley, movie theatre, he set the paper back down. I will leave you to freshen up, but we should talk, later, this afternoon, about 3 p.m. in my office, which youll find on the map, too. We can, then, discuss the arrangements of your departure.

He turned and left.

She tore off her clothes and put them in the trash. After a hot shower and a change, she felt much better.

Starr sat on the couch wondering what she should do until 3 p.m. On the north end, there was mostly recreational: pool, gym, spa, and green house, animals. On the south were offices and libraries, meeting rooms. The bottom floors were ball rooms and dining halls, and the main kitchen and dungeon. In each corner of the castle, there was one immediate kitchen for guests personal use.

She decided to follow her map to the kitchen closest to her. It was a little stone room with a table. Along the walls were a dozen cabinets, or so, with names taped to the insides. The refrigerator was stocked with blood in glass bottles, sealed off with metal tops.

Starr walked up the remaining flights of stairs to the very top landing.

Despite the sky light, it was especially dark, as most of the light flowed straight down, and then branched out around the seventh floor. At both ends of the top landing were sets of stairs in tight hallways; they both led to the roof. She took one up and found that she was on the landing strip. As she stood and looked around at the surrounding peaks, she noticed that there was, literally, no road way, in or out, of the castle. On the north side of the wall, there were tennis courts; on the south were horse stables. In between the stables and tennis courts was a large patio with a stone dais big enough to roast several bulls at once. Further out was a yard, across which ran dozens of chickens. Linens and curtains hung on lines that stretched out for a quarter mile. Even further out, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, and cows grazed together.

A few hours later, Starr followed the little map to the south end. On that side of the castle, everything was much more serious looking. Law books lined the walls of the hallways, and people ran about, appearing to be preoccupied with whatever they were working on.

When she finally made it to Blakelys office, he said, Hello, Starr, please sit, he gestured to a seat as he half stood up, and then sat back down.

His office was large and lined with more books. On the wall was a large flat screen with a desktop on it. Well, to start, I have a question: How did you find us? She looked at him, a moment, wondering how much she should tell him.

Madam Balaji told you? he asked sounding surprised. Starr really hated mind readers; if only she could master closing her mind. She tried to focus on a blank slate as she spoke; the way Bulgari told her.

Would you like to go home tomorrow? he asked. Yes, please, she said with relief. Great! Our company plane is flying out at 7 a.m. You will leave with our Council Fleet, our military so to speak. After our pilot drops them off in the Transcarpathian Mountains, right outside Oblast, Ukraine, he will take you to New York, as hes got to pick up some of our own. Okay, that is all.

About 7 p.m., she made her way down to the dining hall. An enormous fire was lit, and there was a large buffet. People went in and out at different times; some ate together while others ate alone. Starr grabbed a plate and helped herself to a strange dish that resembled goulash, in her opinion.

Alone, she sat at the emptiest end of the long table. Hi, Starr, said a towering man with phoenix shaped eyes, as he took the seat across from her. Im Chanler; I saw you come in, earlier. If she were alive, her breath would have stilled at the sight of him. He had soft smooth skin, cheekbones typical of a diamond shaped face, and a soft rounded chin.

Hello.

Ever since I heard youd come to Romania, Ive wanted to meet you. Why? She froze in the middle of a bite, and looked at him. I heard you took out Levi, Peter, and Mike. Who? The vampires Levi hired to help capture you. A brief image of two heads rolling across the floor replayed itself in her mind; it was the night Levi tried to have her killed. She continued eating without response. Many of us were wondering who would have the nerve to take on such a man, and win. He was no ordinary vampire, and you became a source of concern for us. Like magma through an ocean fissure, anger seeped through her pores.

Just barely keeping her voice from quivering, she looked him straight in the eyes and asked, Why cant you guys just leave me alone? We keep tabs on all vampires, and especially strong or crazy ones. You think Im crazy? No, I dont, Starr. You may have your struggles, but what goes on, in you, is deeper than most people at the point of death. What the hell are you talking about? You remember when you wondered if dying at an emotional apex could last a lifetime? Well, you were right, in a lot of ways. When our kind dies, many of us lose a portion of our humanity, there, on the spot. Depending on what was happening to us at our turning point, some of us lose more than others. From then on, we lose a bit more of our humanity every day. This is a serious detriment because, without morality, we are

nothing but aimless, mindless zombies. Starr smirked and shook her head. Shane would never have agreed, and would have told him that she was a monster.

Shane is always hearing our inner thoughts, but she isnt logical. We all think and feel terrible things; it is what makes us human. For her to hold your inner soul against you was wrong. Just because you think and feel, doesnt necessarily mean that you do. But what about the things I did? She thinks Im barbaric, referring to the men she killed in self defense back in New York. You made some mistakes. You must learn and move on. They ate in silence. Then he stood up, empty plate in hand, and said, Well, I hear you are

going home tomorrow. We will see each other then. Goodnight, he said with a slight bow, and walked off.

Homeward Bound

Chapter 2

The next morning, she gathered her things and went to the top landing, and then climbed the side stairwell up to the landing strip. Waiting to climb aboard a small jet airplane that was being fueled was a dozen people wearing black wingsuits. Several of them nodded their heads to Starr; one of them was Chanler.

Some of them were discussing, furiously, amongst themselves while others had apprehensive looks on their faces. She tried not eaves drop, but couldnt help overhearing a dark skinned, light brown eyed guy briefing them that they should try to land in a

cluster of trees before touching the ground. It sounded crazy to Starr. Certainly, if they were alive, they would never attempt such a thing.

Finally, the pilot, also in a black wingsuit, came and told them they could board. One by one, they climbed up the stairs. Inside, the jet was especially cozy with soft cushioned tan seats separated by tables. When the pilot closed the door, Starr felt uneasy. But it wasnt her that was feeling so, it was someone around her. She turned and looked around at the others, briefly, before turning back in her seat.

Okay, everybody, buckle up! said the pilot as he went to his seat in the cockpit.

Taking off from the roof was the worst flying experience shed ever had. The plane felt like it would break into pieces, under the weight of the down draft from the mountains. To make it worse, the door was left open so the men could jump out, once they reached their destination. She tried not to break the arm rest she clung to as the plane battled the wind, tossing her up and down, backward and forward, in her seat. Her nerves didnt calm until they made it to 30,000 feet, when the nose began to level off. Several hours went by; Starr had nodded off.

A mass of rustling woke her: the men were putting packs on their backs and lining up in the aisle.

Chanler was already at the cabin door, with goggles on his eyes.

Okay! Lets go! he clapped his hands.

Go! Go! Go! he shouted at each man, as they leapt out.

But then, right as the last man jumped out, Starr was flung, from her seat, to the back side of the plane where she lay sprawled out, across a row of seats.

She sat up and looked, out the window, at the clouds that floated upward, past her, at hundreds of miles per hour. Panic rose in her chest; tears rolled down her face.

Starr! called Chanler who was flung through the cockpit door, onto the dash. The pilot helped him to his feet, and then he walked, quickly, to the door and jumped out.

Chanler ran to her, put his arms around her waist, yanked her off the seats, and buried her face in his chest as he dragged her to the front of the plane.

Before she understood what he was about to do, he leapt out.

She screamed as loud as her lungs would allow.

The wind beat her head and back, ferociously. Upon daring to open her eyes and look around her, she

screamed even louder, and tried to burrow her head, deeper, into his chest.

Chanler groaned loudly under her tightened grip. Starr resisted his fingers clawing at hers, in an attempt to slacken her bone crushing hands.

A loud humming vibration came close to them. Out of the corner of her left eye, she watched the plane veer off, down into the hills; a second later, there was a loud explosion.

Finally, the ground was approaching.

Starr screamed even louder when she saw they were headed for a large tree.

No, no, no! she screamed and tried to veer Chanler away, but he resisted her. Chanler screamed at her, telling her to stop fighting him, but she couldnt; instinctively, her arms and legs fought him.

Finally, they fell into the tree, but, instead of landing, securely, on a branch, they fell straight through to the ground where she sank to her knees and vomited red, from her blood syrup soaked pancake breakfast.

Chanlerrr!

Two men were running toward them: the dark one with light brown eyes shed seen briefing, earlier, and the pilot.

Hey, what are you doing here? Chanler asked sounding relieved. Saul, here, the guy with the light eyes motioned to the pilot, lost the others by minutes, and I felt the plane get shot as I jumped out, so I watched for you, both, and estimated where youd land. Saul and I were alright, but youre way off course, buddy. Howd you end up over here? Starr was freaking out when she should have kept still, and then, before I knew it, we were on this side of the mountain and everyone else had already landed. Well, excuse me, she spat viciously. Ive never sky dived before! Do you think the others saw us coming down? asked Chanler hopeful. Perhaps, answered Saul, but bullets were still being fired when Alin,

he nodded to light eyed man, and I jumped. What do you think we should do? Chanler asked Alin. I think we should continue on to our destination. Why dont you just call them? asked Starr. Because even though were in the middle of nowhere, doesnt mean our enemies arent technologically sound, Alin replied. We dont carry anything that can let our enemies know we are here. Besides, you never know what a desperate soldier will do, even at the risk of compromising a mission. So how am I going to get out of here then? she asked angrily. You have one of two choices: stay with us or go your own way, Chanler said indifferently. I recommend you stay with us though. We could use your help, and, besides, you could easily get ambushed and

held hostage; a lot of people have been disappearing in these parts. What about the others, asked Alin, his eyes glowing like hot coals under the rays of the sun. They have their orders; they know what to do, said Chanler.

And with that, they started walking.

Angrily, and knowing Blakely had set her up, Starr followed.

Into Transcarpatia

Chapter 3

The Transcarpathian terrain was just as beautiful as the Carpathian Mountains, Romania. There were prairies, green and lush, that stretched for miles, and, occasionally, theyd happen upon woods of trees so tall with the richest, dark green leaves; a strange sight to see in winter. Clearly, local vegetation had adapted excellently to the climate.

In the woods, theyd see mountain Gypsies chopping down trees, and sometimes hunting.

Every so often, theyd pass a township or a small dwelling; usually near large lakes. In these places, people still lived like they were in another century. One man, who looked

to be about sixteen, sat in the sunlight, on the bank of a lake, churning as he whistled a lilting lyric.

The sun beat down on them, and it was starting to affect her, severely.

Legends said that their kind couldnt stand the sun, but it was really the ultra violet radiation that was a danger to them. Fortunately, Chanler had extra sun protectant, which he gave to Starr. No matter what, she was just glad she was in appropriate shoes, now; plus the ground wasnt nearly as swampy as her trek to The Council.

When they started to lose light, they looked for a place to camp. They found a comfortable, dry spot in the midst of some trees, just off their path.

Starr gathered timber, with Chanler and Saul, while Alin set off to find them dinner. Once they made it back to their camp site, Alin made a fire simply by staring at the wood and concentrating. Completely awed, Starr asked, How did you do that?

He skewered three little squirrels on a wooden spit, and said, The older you get, Starr, the more your powers develop, but, if you practice, you might find that you can goad yourself along, a bit faster.

The three squirrels steamed above the heat; the smell made her hungry.

So which one of you wants to admit it?

They looked at each other, and then at Starr. What? asked Saul curiously. Which of you wants to admit that it was Blakelys plan, all along, to get me here with you. I assure you, Starr, said Chanler, looking straight into her eyes, this was not part of the plan. Are you going to explain about the plan, or are you going to leave me hanging? After all, Im stuck with you, now, arent I? How do I know I shouldnt run off and leave you here? Chanler considered her a moment, and then said, Fine. He sat up, pushing his feet under his thighs. Two years ago, there was a terrible incident at a mental institution in Lviv Oblast; the entire hospital had been slaughtered. A friend to The

Council reported the incident, and we went to check it out. What we saw was shocking, even to us: walls completely covered in blood, as though someone used spray paint guns on them, he pulled a squirrel off the fire and took a bite. The very night we arrived, screaming in the streets was to be heard from every direction we faced. We went to investigate and found the towns people being terrorized by men and women in white coats with tags, and others who were, mostly, in pajamas or extremely casual garments. We knew they were from the mental hospital, and that theyd been turned, so we put them all down. For a while, there was peace, here, in the Ukraine, but then, last year, people began disappearing in these very mountains, and it was not simple acts of robbery and murder, but rather entire tours went missing. Then, months would pass, and theyd suddenly show up in odd places. They

claimed they didnt remember what had happened to them; they were disoriented, confused, and did barbaric things, like ripping their family, friends, or pets, into pieces and leaving them for anyone to find. And, of course, some of their victims came back to life, after they were clearly dead. Now, none of this is news, as this sort of thing happens all the time. Someone vamps out, turns someone, and that person is left to their own devices, and they go crazy because they do not understand what is happening to them, so they hunt and, in the end, we have to put them down. Why dont you help them? Why do you have to put them down? Because when people are first turned, their thirst is maddening; there is no reasoning with them, at that point, because they are like rabid dogs. When I was first turned, I was not like a rabid dog, she said.

Not everyone turns the same, Starr. Some are stronger of will, and can fight their inner demon; others cannot. Still, youll remember, correctly, the struggle you went through, those first couple of days; almost as though you were on a permanent trip. Shaking her head, she refuted, I dont believe that crazed vampirism is all that is going on here. Why did someone shoot us down from the sky? Because, this time, there is a bigger devil at work, here. However, its plan is an old one that, time and time again, weve had to quash: vampires with god complexes, who think we should rule the Earth. First, the devil tried the old method of just letting a few vamped out vampires loose to do damage. Next they tried nabbing tourists, in the hopes that they could brainwash them into their world domination way of thinking, and then return them to their normal everyday lives where theyd

turn, en masse, people into vampires. They hoped theyd do it quietly, and without arousing us, but we thwarted the devil, once again. This time, there has been a report of people disappearing in a village twenty miles from where we sit, Fedir. There, we suspect, well find the devil responsible for all this trouble, and then well kill him or her.

He paused and chewed some meat.

A decade ago, we put down over 1,000 rogue vampires. And, believe me, it seemed ridiculous that many of those, who were turned, couldnt work out what had happened to them, and couldnt determine right from wrong. Some were power hungry, and others thought they were either dreaming, in a coma, or, like you, hallucinating on drugs.

When youre dealing with hundreds of vamped out vampires who wont listen to you, think youre crazy, and who think they, themselves, are crazy, its just too messy and time consuming to worry about saving them all. We simply dont have the resources to help them all, Chanler concluded.

Vamped out was a term coined by Louisa Credenza to describe the effects of a vampire whod lost human consciousness, leaving the demonic virus that caused vampirism in full control of the human body. Once a vampire vamped out, he was like a rabid dog, and there was no telling what he or she might do.

Every few years, said Alin, some crazy person attempts these things. And it is always a hell of job undoing it, Saul cut in.

Starr pulled the last bit of meat off the leg of her squirrel and tossed the bone into the fire. How did they know we were coming? asked Starr. Surely, these arent your average, everyday vampires with god complexes? What with enough fire power to shoot down a 737? Yes, we have considered this, Alin replied.

They sat in silence, a moment.

Starr felt a light buzzing in her ears, followed by a tingling on her arms and the back of her neck: she sensed the presence of someone near. Using her mind, like she did at the castle, she tried to see who it was, but whoever was spying on them was cloaking their thoughts.

The look on Chanlers, Sauls, and Alins face told her that she wasnt the only one whod sensed it.

Starr pulled her beloved sickles from her jacket and started to stand, preparing to fight, but Chanler snapped out his arm across her, keeping her down.

Shh! he said. Keep still; empty your mind.

After a moment, the presence left them. Do you think someones coming to attack us? she asked. Depends on whether or not they were able to determine our location, replied Saul, looking at Alin. You are the best telepath in the Fleet. What do you think?

They did not get the information they came for, said Alin. What information did they seek? asked Chanler. Whether we were with the others, but I did not get who the others are. I do not think they are with the vampires who we seek, but, whoever he was, he knew recognized us as Council Fleet. Sorry, thats all I got. But, yes, were safe, here, tonight.

Relieved that they didnt have to move, she stretched out, in front of the fire, laid her head on her balled up jacket and closed her eyes, but sleep wouldnt come.

Finally, she sat up and stared into the flames. Alin and Saul were feet away, lying against tree trunks.

Chanler, who was taking the first few hours of lookout, sat, stoking the fire. Starr couldnt help admiring his face, in the light of the flames. His eyes moved toward hers, and quickly back down to the fire again.

I really wish you would consider staying on with us, Starr. We need someone like you; strong and intuitive. I cant; I have responsibilities, she said, thinking about Lily and Marla, and the clinic. One thing everyone seems to forget is that Im only 16 years old. I have dreams, and they dont include joining a military order. He looked at her a moment, and then asked, Who is this girl, Lily? She is important to you? Will you stay out of my head? she asked irritably.

Sorry, I cant help it. This sort of telepathy is like hearing a conversation taking place, live, in front of you. You will see what I mean, in time, if you grow into that sort of power. He looked back down into the flames, thoughtfully.

Lily is a girl who lives at the clinic; where I and a few other orphaned kids live. But you are no orphan. I know, but I cant go home. Why not? When I was first turned, I had to learn to be a vampire on my own. I didnt know that I could pass, easily, for human. I felt that, until I figured out what happened to me, and what my new life was to be like, I had to stay away, for their safety at the very least. But, then, one thing led to another, at the clinic, with my friends, and Lily, and

now I cant go back because they need me. Your parents miss you; go home, at least for a little while. Tuh, Starr shook her head. After my sister went missing, they barely looked at me; it was like they wished it had been me who had been kidnapped and murdered. The day I left home to find my sister, my mother saw me with my packed bag, and didnt even bother to ask where I was going. He looked consolingly at Starr, and back to the flames with a preoccupied look on his face.

What? she asked, wondering what he thought. You just reminded me of something similar I went through, with my family, right before I joined the marines. Did you go to Iraq?

No, Saigon, 1955. We werent fighting at the time, but we were stationed there as French allies and reinforcement. Anyway, I had a brother who was outgoing and very handsome, could win over anyone. My parents had a blind spot when it came to him. When he ran off to New York to become a writer, he fell in with the wrong crowd. We never heard from him, again, and my parents were sullen until the day I left. I understood their grief, but couldnt help resenting them for their rejecting me; taking their anger out on me, essentially. Many, many, years later, I returned, and they were so old that they didnt recognize me. I dont know why I waited so long.

What happened to your brother? Apparently, he overdosed on drugs at the Chelsea Hotel. So you never made amends with your parents?

No, and I wish I had. How did you get to be the head of the Council Fleet? Well, before me, Louisa was head, but she was tired of it, and with technology ever increasing, she wanted to get someone with a fresh mind who could keep up with all the advances of the world. I was an excellent soldier who knew about WMDs and how to work a computer, so she turned me and then hired me. For the longest time, I was angry with her, but, now, I appreciate what Ive become. More than once, The Council and I have saved the world from a monster apocalypse; it is a rewarding job. Sounds like its alright, here, but its still not for me. Maybe you could talk to Louisa; get her to let me off the hook? Im sorry but I think its too late for you, Starr. I dont think youll ever have the normal life you want; not if

Louisa hopes to drag you into this war, he quoted with his fingers. What is that supposed to mean? Well, she did the same thing to me, as shes doing to you; forced me into the Council Fleet. In fact, I wouldnt be surprised if she spotted you long before you were actually turned, because that is what happened to me. Louisa always has a plan for everything, and for everyone. But, whether you want any part of this war, or not, I have a feeling that it is going to be all inclusive; this mission were on, now, will be nothing compared to what we face in, what we call, tribal extermination. How many tribes are there? Roughly, a dozen are on our target list; each one with a hundred or more vampires. What kind of savagery? Rituals?

Oh, yes, anything barbaric you can think of: sacrifices to gods, human torture, human cattle stocking, living in caves, donning rags, and shirking the mortal world, acting like animals. Do you support this war? Not at first, but, after seeing the havoc theyve wreaked, in times past, it becomes easier to sympathize, and especially as they create more vampires in the effort to strengthen their parties. If they were to try and take over the world, it could be devastating, more devastating than the monster were facing on this mission now. Starr looked into the fire and contemplated his words. It sounded like a lot of work to be done. Sure, she should feel compassionate, but all she could consider was how to get out of it. But, then, of course, if they someone really did try to take over the world, shed be sucked in, in the end, anyway.

You should go see your parents, Chanler disrupted her thoughts. If theres one thing I regret, its not patching things up before they died. Not that they would have cared much for patching things up with me, but it would have made me a better person. Do you understand? The look of sorrow in his eyes aroused her lust and sympathy. She wouldve loved to have kissed his soft looking lips.