"Are you actively trying to push the humans to rebellion?" Councillor Davidson nearly shouted at me. His handsome face was an intriguing mixture of incredulity and outrage, his anger and shock warring under the nondescript brown hair that was slightly messy from the sheer force of his protestations.

I blinked back at him innocently. "Of course not." Human rebellion was obviously against all of our interests.

"Well, that's what you're doing, Councillor Vienne! You're old enough to understand how feral humans will react if you push them too far. Once cornered, they'll eventually attack."

I inhaled and exhaled deeply, as if it were necessary, although it had been many centuries since I had any need for such mortal means as mere oxygen. I also ignored his comment about my age since it was beside the point, although perhaps under any other circumstances I would have made him eat his words with those sharp fangs of his.

After all, it was rude to refer to a lady's age, and a female vampire doubly so.

"My bill is not intended to corner the humans, councillor. It is intended for scientific and organizational purposes only."

He scoffed at me loudly, the perfect union of his disbelief and aggravation. Across the raised debate floor of the high-ceilinged assembly hall, his blue eyes stared into mine. Davidson's well shaped lips were set in a thin line and his pleasing eyebrows were drawn together. That sweet fusion of handsome vexation really was a good look for him, as he stood proudly alone like a gladiator facing off in a coliseum.

"I simply want the means for us to study and better understand the migratory habits of feral humans. It's no different than back when humans used to tag wild animals for study. I have a keen interest in preserving the human population, because, as you know, they are the bedrock of our civilization."

My eyes flicked over the rows of our fellow councillors who were watching our debate in the ornate chamber, before turning my attention back to my opponent. I smiled respectfully as I waited for his response.

"This is obviously another backdoor attempt at controlling the free human population," Councillor Davidson announced. It was rather amusing how invested the young vampire was in the debate, as if he felt something silly like empathy for the poor little wild humans.

Eventually, he would learn that those sorts of fanciful ideas would not get him very far with the council.

"Nonsense. My only interest is in science. Why is it that you are so set against science, councillor? I know new understanding can be frightening, but such discoveries are the only way that we can progress forward."

He nearly sputtered.

The magistrate interrupted our debate. "We're going in circles at this point, councillors. Closing remarks."

I smiled sweetly at my handsome opposition. "Shall I go first, or would you like to?"

Closing last could be an advantage, but I doubted I needed it.

"After you," he said, clearly willing to grasp it in a last ditch effort to rally his losing cause. Davidson had his ideals, but only a few decades of council experience to back them up.

I nodded and turned my attention back to the assembled councillors.

"Honourable councillors, today I have brought before you Bill 471Fii, which seeks to increase our knowledge of feral human behaviours through an organized brand and release program. This effort will in no way ultimately harm the feral population, but will rather help us better understand their migratory patterns throughout the year. Please join me in voting for the furthering of scientific discovery."

Short and sweet, I nodded to them respectfully before returning to my seat. I turned my head towards my opposition and set myself into the very position of respectful attentiveness to hear his passionate speech about why he disagreed with my bill. It was a valiant effort.

"Honourable councillors, I stand before you today opposed to the bill for the systematic branding of the feral human population. Rather than its stated purpose of increasing our knowledge of human behavioural patterns, it will cause more discontent amongst the humans who yet remain free of direct vampire rule.

"Our society exists on a delicate balance. We vampires need humans, but they are also the greatest threat against us, lest we forget that humans are predators in their own right."

Such pretty sentiments. A small titter ran through the councillors at his assertion. I smiled at the way Davidson's jaw ticked and his brows furrowed at the rejection of his words.

"We must treat the humans well enough that they do not feel the need to stand against us. Adding one more frivolous—" Davidson shot a resentful glare in my direction "—oppressive measure against the free humans will do nothing but rile them up further. If this bill goes through, the council will be doing nothing but nurturing a potential threat for almost no possible gain. Please join me in voting against this newest proposed reckless waste of limited resources, Bill 471Fii."

Once finished, he returned to his own place, unable to keep the anger entirely from his footfalls.

I considered his demeanor. A few centuries ago, I might have initiated a relationship with him, but I could summon no romantic interest for the handsome neophyte. My only true interest in him was the thrill of aggravating him in debate and I partook of that pleasure as often as possible.

Fully half of my motivation for bringing forward Bill 471FiI was simply to provoke him.

"All in favour of passing Bill 471Fii, say 'Aye'."

A chorus of ayes was heard around the room. I raised my hand along with those in favour and said the same.

"All opposed to the passing of Bill 471Fii, say 'Nay'."

A few nays sounded out, chief amongst them Councillor Davidson's resounding response. The dark look he shot me at the glaringly obvious results made all the time and effort of preparing my bill entirely worthwhile, even not taking into account the ancillary benefits.

The page walked up to the magistrate and handed him a piece of paper.

The magistrate spoke. "The 'Ayes' have it, seventy-three to twenty. Three abstained."

There was a resounding cheer from those who had sided with my bill. I smiled at my opposition sweetly and he glowered back.

I looked like an angel, all sweetness and curves, but he no doubt regarded me like a monstrous demon from the depths. The urge to smile wider was strong inside me, but I held back the inclination.

"We'll take a break and reconvene in forty minutes," the page announced upon conferring with the magistrate.

I stood up and made my way towards the exit, but before I could get far, I was ambushed by several of the other councillors congratulating me upon my successful bill. I nodded graciously and they gradually fell off as I reached the door.

All but one.

"I'm so hungry," Councillor Enrique said with a little moan as if to highlight the truth of his statement. With dark brown hair and a slightly boyish face, he was reasonably attractive—if one ignored his dull personality.

I kept my disdain for him inward. The buffoon believed us to be allies, perhaps even friends since we often supported each other's bills. "I'm a mite bit peckish myself," I agreed.

He laughed and I joined him to reassure him of our camaraderie. "I can't imagine how. I hear you've got six feeders along with you, Vienne."

I nodded bashfully, as if I were ashamed of the large number of humans I had brought with me for this quarter. "None of them are ready yet for another feeding, unfortunately." Marcel was probably recovered enough by now, but my humans remained in far better condition when I kept my feedings small.

"You really have too much self-restraint to be a proper vampire."

"If I refrain from immediately breaking my toys, I save myself the effort of replacing and retraining them."

If I had realized I would be stuck in the capital this long, I would have brought more along. It was a shame I had not anticipated the sheer number of frivolous bills that would be brought to this convention.

My bill was little better, but it suited my purposes so I granted myself leeway.

Councillor Enrique shook his head, as if he could not fathom how my peculiar behaviour made sense. "Well then, perhaps you would like to come with me to see the newest batch brought in? Most were wild and I've heard you like that flavour."

I considered. I did not know if I wanted a new human, since they were always so much trouble at the beginning. Yet, at the same time, if I went down there with the councillor, I would cement his belief that I truly was a friend. And one could never have too many humans. "Very well."

We walked the stone halls. Once, long ago, I might have found this place cold, but the concept was meaningless now. The world was my temperature, as if I were a cold blooded creature. Only the rush of warm blood when I fed from a human broke the chill. Pure ambrosia, pure heat, an addictive feeling that drove some vampires to utter irrationality.

We descended into the dungeon, where new feeders were kept for future sale. Most vampires had to wait to bid on these pitiful creatures at the block, but I and the other councillors had the privilege of first pick if we chose.

The guards nodded at us respectfully as we passed and looked into the first cages where the humans were held. The rush of the scent of humans, which was wired into my brain as the solution to my hunger as firmly as the scent of roasted meat and vegetables might have been at one time, hit my nose and I salivated slightly.

I swept my gaze over the captured wretches. A lot of them were loose in the cages, weeping or shuddering as they contemplated the unpleasant reality of their new futures.

Although the bars were enough to contain the humans, a few were chained with shackles to the solid inner walls of the prison. These individuals would have been the troublesome ones, the fighters. It was the first step to breaking them, forcing them to understand how powerless they were as mere mortals under the new vampiric order.

I swept my eyes over them as we walked down the rows of cages. Most of the shackled ones were male and all seemed to have lost their fight. Few met my eyes and the ones who dared bore an empty look that evoked nothing but my disinterest.

There was one female amongst the restrained fighters, number 56 762. She looked just as hopeless as the shackled men, her long black hair hanging down over her face as she hung listlessly by her wrists.

Many of the other councillors liked females, while I preferred males because they produced more blood as well as pleased my sense of aesthetics.

"She'd probably be a lot of trouble," Councillor Enrique commented, apparently following my gaze. He preferred his prey not to put up too much of a fight. Although it was unheard of for us to discuss our former human lives, I imagined he had once been a shut in, but not through fear of the outside world but out of pure dedication to sloth.

"Perhaps, but it seems to me she's already lost her rebellion."

It was almost imperceptible, but she flinched just slightly at my pronouncement. Interesting.

"Still, not worth the risk in my opinion, although Magnus might like her," he said. "Perhaps I'll tip him off."

Councillor Magnus would almost certainly like her. He got off on breaking humans and most of my fellow vampires understood me to be the same. My motivations were a bit different than Magnus'ss, but I was like him in that I did not wish for things to be too easy.

When one lived as long as I had with an indefinite future ahead to contend with, boredom was the most dangerous threat of all.

We continued down the line, my eyes disregarding the huddled masses to fixate on the hanging broken fighters. It was a shame; if they had already given up then they were no challenge at all.

Then I saw him, number 56 817.

He was dark blond and better muscled than was typical of wild humans, with a firm jawline and a pleasing face, freshly shaved, no doubt in preparation for the block. Though as filthy as all the others and wearing clothing little better than ripped rags, he was obviously quite attractive under the markings of his current terrible position.

His weight was supported by his wrists and his head was lolling slightly forward as if there was no hope for him.

I stopped and looked at him, wishing he would put up some sort of fight so that I might have an excuse to buy him.

As if reading my mind, those dark eyes turned up and I was struck by the pure fury that was directed straight at me.

If he could have escaped his bonds and his cage, he would happily attempt to rip me apart with his bare hands in that moment.

And not just me. He would love nothing more than to burn everything, most especially the vampire council, to the ground.

Then the expression disappeared back into a blank gaze as if it had never been. I glanced at Councillor Enrique and saw his eyes lingering over some poor pretty little wretch near the front of the cage before sweeping over the rest of the occupants.

We continued on until we had circled back to the entrance. I listened absently as Councillor Enrique bought five of the humans.

Really, he went through them so quickly it was ridiculous. The other vampires tittered behind their hands at the large number I brought along on my journeys, but I scarcely ever had to replace my feeders. Fools. My humans were well trained to serve my every need, something you could not get if you replaced them every week.

I turned my gaze to the master of stock. "I'll take number 56 817."

Councillor Enrique glanced at me, his eyes wide with surprise. "Really? I'm surprised you would choose him. He looked dead inside."

I shrugged with deliberate nonchalance. "True, but I need sustenance while I'm here and I can see he's rather pretty under the dirt. He might not be much, but he'll do well enough in a pinch."

Councillor Enrique chortled. "Understandable."

My penchant for male beauty was apparently becoming as well known as my love of bringing rebellious humans to heel.

I pretended to consider, although my decision had already been made. "Perhaps I should get a second, since it seems I may be stuck here another week. I'll also take 56 762."

The master of stock nodded his head.

"Withdraw the funds from my account and have both feeders delivered to my chambers."

Councillor Enrique and I continued on our way.

"I'm surprised, you don't usually choose females."

Did these people really have nothing better to do than gossip about my meal preferences? My fake smile was so realistic that no one would be able to spot the difference. "Well, females can be good for a snack from time to time. If I grow bored with her, maybe I'll gift her to Magnus."

The fool nodded his supposed understanding of my genius. I smiled back as if I felt anything besides contempt for the short-sighted creature beside me.

By the time I was done taking care of council matters and managed to get back to my rooms, I was feeling a bit more than peckish. I entered my lavish suite to find everyone in their proper places in the entryway of my chambers, a large room with medieval influences, matching the rest of the council building. My six properly trained humans bowed their heads respectfully when they saw me. My two new humans were attached by chains to hooks firmly set in the stone just for such purposes.

I smiled, showing my fangs to the two new arrivals. Both were marginally cleaner than when I had first spotted them, but there was still work to be done. I wandered over to them and the female attempt to hide her fear, although her heart still pounded frantically. The male looked at me, his gaze blank.

How far would I have to push him to get a more amusing reaction?

My smile widened.

"What's your name, human?" I asked the female.

She did not answer.

"I asked you a question. Name?"

She looked away.

It was no surprise. They tended to train humans not to use their given human names early on, in an effort to break them.

Names were rebellion. Numbers were dehumanizing.

And also boring. I preferred the personal touch.

"I'm ordering you to give me your name, 56 762."

She flinched a bit. "Trisha."

"See, that wasn't so hard, now was it, Trisha? I like to know the authentic names of the dishes I feast on."

She paled under her tan. Her reaction disappointed me so I moved on to the other.

"And what's your name, human?"

The blank stare met my own gaze. No fear, but disappointingly devoid of any other more intriguing emotions. I sighed. "I asked you a question, little human."

My words amused me. In spite of his rough condition, with all his well used muscles and the fact he was almost a full head taller than me, he outweighed me by a good thirty pounds at least. He might be a lot of things, but little he was not.

His gaze did not falter. I grinned wider, intentionally predatory. "56 817, I expect a prompt response from my slaves when I speak to them."

He was resolutely silent.

"Very well, Little Human."

I turned away from my new additions and towards my familiar humans. "Marcel, come with me. The rest of you, help these two clean up to an acceptable standard. Start with Trisha, leave Little Human until second."

The five began rushing about while Marcel followed me to my sitting room. Like all the feeders I had brought along, he was handsome and in peak condition.

"Come here," I instructed, not bothering with compulsion. There was no need.

He obeyed, sitting beside me.

My expression darkened as my predatory nature gleamed red in my eyes.

"Now, Marcel, I've missed you dearly. Remember, don't forget to scream."

My meal was both satisfying and delectable to the tune of Marcel's delightful ear splitting wails.