It was a very good question. If only I had an equally good answer.

"Everything," I said. Everything was my game.

It was obvious my simple response annoyed him. I smiled at him beatifically, although inside my thoughts were in turmoil.

Why did I continually tell him more than what was wise? It was not as if I did not have humans who were my confidants, but they were those who were loyal to me.

Jamie had no allegiance to me. Maybe it was simply that he still yearned to leave. Although it was impossible for him to escape my home, if he did somehow get free I wanted him to survive his quest for vengeance. If I could not have him, I at least did not want him lost before his time.

Or maybe something else I could not fathom.

Either way, I was hardly going to tell him any of that.

The best thing, of course, was to distract him.

"Do you want to know the true weakness of vampires?"

He looked suspicious, but also surprised and it was obvious my diversion had worked.

"What?"

I smiled. "Well, I should say, most vampires. I do not believe it is my own." I paused to build his anticipation. He frowned at me for drawing it out. He was so handsome when he was vexed.

Then, I gave him what he wanted. "Vampires fear death above all."

"Death." He did not look impressed and clearly thought I was lying.

But I was not, at least not this time.

"Vampires run from it for so long that it looms ever bigger in the shadows. We avoid it. We sacrifice humans on the altar of death to keep it at bay just one more day. We pretend that we are no longer what we once were so that we do not have to face the fact that one day the end will come for us, too."

"The sooner the better."

"Well, if it gives you comfort, vampires will only outlive humanity by a few months at most.

"I'd prefer it if it were the other way around."

"Me, too. Blood starvation would be a terrible way to go. I'd rather be burned alive at the hands of an angry mob in the midday sun." I smiled at him.

"I think death is your weakness in the opposite way. You have a twisted fascination with it."

"You say that as if it is a bad thing."

He merely looked at me with disbelief.

"Well, I am rather familiar with natural decay as an outside observer. Almost every person I've ever known and cared for is gone, vampire or human." I kept my voice most factual, as if I had not seen things that might have downed a lesser being.

Fortunately, I could handle it. My dark games were my shield.

He seemed indecisive about how to respond and I rather regretted my confession. I certainly did not want his pity of all things, but I could take care of that.

"Of course, I probably sucked the life out of half of them so I suppose I can't complain."

He frowned, but he did not look as disgusted as I had anticipated. "I don't know if you mean that you sucked out their blood or their will to live."

I grinned. "Good question. Likely both."

I noticed that even though he was scowling he again did not look nearly as upset at my words as he usually did. Maybe he was becoming desensitized to my teasing. This would never do. What was I going to do if he stopped attacking me for my provocations?

Tilting my face towards the sky, I looked up at the stars. I loved the stars, those distant suns, but so far away that they could not harm even the youngest fledgling with their light.

They were one thing that never changed, or rather they changed, but so slowly that I could not perceive the difference. Humans were born and humans died, but the stars remained.

There was an odd pang in the place where my dead heart lay. It was going to hurt terribly when this human was gone. I told myself I likely had decades to steel myself for that inevitable, devastating moment.

I did not look at him. I made my voice cold. "Well, you need your rest. You're dismissed, human."

I sensed he would like to argue, but he did not. "As you wish, Mistress," he said with none of the respect of my other humans. Normally it would have amused me, but right now, it just made me feel a sorrow I had no proper reason to feel.

I listened as his footsteps walked away, growing quieter until I could not hear them at all anymore and it was only me left alone with the silence and the stars.

* * * * *

Over the next few days, I decided to avoid Jamie again. I ordered Theo to let him at the archives once they were combined and then I did my very best not to think about him even slightly.

I failed hard at not thinking of him and hopefully no one could tell how out of sorts I was. I wandered around some of the time, hoping that I might hit on some way to make myself feel better about the whole problem, with almost no luck.

Finally, my melancholy state was broken while I was wandering in the halls, as far from the computer archives where Jamie was digging through the newer databanks as I could get. Ian came rushing up to me with a worried expression on his face.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Leif's looking for you. There are vampires coming."

I normally hated when they dropped in, but I could use the distraction. "Who?"

"We don't know yet, they're working on it. They've just breached the borders," he said.

That meant we had a few minutes at least. "I'll go speak to Leif." I immediately began striding down the halls, aware Ian following me by the sound of his quick footsteps. I knocked sharply on the door but did not wait for Leif to call for me to enter. He would know I would be coming.

"Mistress," he said by way of greeting.

"Leif, do you know who it is?"

"Wyatt is working on it."

"Let me see the picture," I said, and Leif handed it to me quickly. Even though the printout of several forms was poor quality and in black and white, I could tell who it was instantly. I smiled. "Davidson."

If I had to deal with a pair of vampiric intruders, at least it was the best kind, the amusing kind. What did they hope to accomplish with this unprecedented visit?

Leif relaxed at my expression and Ian glanced between us as if trying to read the seriousness of the situation.

"They're not a huge threat, so only the most basic lockdown."

Leif nodded.

I strode from the room, towards the main gates to greet my uninvited guests.

Leif would handle it. He would get the newest humans tucked away and deal with anything that might look questionable to another councillor's eyes, like the humans Raoul was now training. Davidson may not be much of a threat, but I did not want to have to explain to him why my kitchen slaves were now learning how to efficiently stab at hearts.

As funny as it might be, I imagined that conversation could get very awkward very fast since it would probably look like treason against the vampiric order to the outside observer, although it was arguably not treasonous to be simply prepared to fight back if the idiotic council failed to prevent the extinction of wild humans on the continent. It was self-defence.

And one never knew, perhaps if my plans progressed more quickly, maybe I would be happy to have my humans more capable. I was far from ready, at least decades away I imagined, but when the moment came, I wanted them ready to act.

I reached the main gates and my guards nodded respectfully. They kept their weapons, but tried to be circumspect about the fact they were armed. I could still tell, but I hoped that other vampires would never suspect that human slaves might be wandering around with daggers the perfect width to slide between ribs, nor semi-automatic weapons, although those were kept even more secretive. I did not want anyone to guess the extent of my arsenal.

Even Davidson, with his merely tentative respect for the rule of the council would not fail to notice that.

A pair of my guards worked the gates open and revealed my trespassers as they drove into my compound in a pair of SUVs. I wondered again what they wanted, but I would hardly let him off the hook by broaching the topic first.

I smiled widely at Davidson and predictably, Naomi, stepped out of their vehicle. Under my polite pretense, it was a threatening smile, one to remind them that I was the apex predator in the relationship. "Councillor Davidson, Councillor Naomi, how good it is to see you again so soon, my friends."

"How good to see you, as well, Councillor Vienne," Naomi said, her pinched face showing her obvious lie. She was so bad at falsity that it was almost cute, like a baby animal trying to walk and falling down.

Davidson nodded at her words, his expression far more serene than it usually was, although he still by no means looked pleased to see me. You would think that I had forced them to come visit me, if you judged only by their expressions.

Behind them, their slaves cowered as they followed their masters out of the vehicles. They were obviously terrified of me. Smart humans, not that their young masters could save them if I wanted to get at them.

Both seemed rather stiff, even for creatures who were not properly alive. Young vampires took everything so dreadfully seriously nowadays. Instead of sulking over the fact I kept messing with their bills, they should be endeavoring to become better at getting their proposals past the frivolous council.

My smile became genuine, but I doubted they appreciated it.

"Come inside," I said as I drew them in past the walls. My guards shut the doors behind them. Naomi's sculpted brows furrowed at the sound. I suppose she was aware that I was a threat to them, if only I chose to be.

And that was without them even being aware of how dangerous my humans were.

"Can I interest you in an overday stay?" I asked.

They glanced at each other in silent conference. Davidson nodded. "Yes, thank you." Neither of them looked sure of how to interpret my behaviour. I smiled sweetly. Perhaps it looked like I was being generous, but I was just making it so I had longer to mess with my favourite antagonist.

I clapped my hands and sent the nearest human off with instructions to have rooms prepared for my guests before I turned my attention back to the angsty young vampires in my presence. It was not as if they properly knew me. They had neither been sired nor born at the time of the human suppression wars. I tried to recall when I had first met Davidson, about a century ago or so. He had been trying to petition councillors even before he had gained his seat, as many young vampires did, but he had been particularly tenacious. I had been delighted when he had managed to weasel his way onto the council.

And now here he was in my home, standing before me, my third favourite entity after myself and my favourite human. Perhaps Drak deserved a mention, but I did not want to give that irritating male any credit whatsoever.

"Let me give you a tour of my home," I suggested. "Your slaves will be well cared for."

Again they shared uneasy looks, but did not protest. Behind them, Javier walked with Davidson's and Naomi's feeders towards the house. The female he was talking to with such familiarity caught my eye, naturally loosely curling blond hair streaming down her back. She seemed to be hanging on his every word.

I supposed it was not surprising. Javier was a very good looking man and brave besides; a human female would have to be silly not to notice that.

It was fascinating. I tucked the information away for later and turned my attention to my guests. "I'm sure you'll find something here that interests you," I promised.

* * * * *

"You really do take decent care of your slaves." Davidson sounded almost surprised with his own observation.

"Well, it's like I say time and time again in the quarterlies, it's foolish not to maintain our most precious resource."

Davidson nodded, although he still seemed a touch troubled by my words.

"Your slaves appeared in decent condition as well," I commented. Compared to some of the slaves of the other vampires I had seen, Davidson's and Naomi's looked positively robust. They were, of course, nothing compared to my humans, but these two seemed at least to put in a good effort at human care.

It was somewhat nice to see that they followed through on the ideas that they brought forward. These two really were genuine human loving softies.

It was cute in a naive sort of way. Perhaps, I might have been just the tiniest bit like them when I was their age.

I took them on a tour of my home similar to the one I had given to Magnus, Willow, and Katter previously, but showed them more, including the kitchens and the gym, although I steered clear of anything that could be put towards a more martial use. When I was done, I left them to settle in and made my way into my chambers. I turned to the guard on the right, Lucas, as I entered. "I wish to speak with Javier, fetch him for me."

He nodded and rushed off to carry out my order. I walked to my chaise and sank down into it while I waited for my human to arrive.

Lucas returned with Javier. "Come with me. I need blood," but even more I wanted my curiosity satisfied.

He did without question and we walked into an inner room that was well away from where my guest's prying ears might hear.

I turned to Javier. "Who is she?"

"She?" he asked.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You mean, Lain?"

"I don't know, is that the name of Davidson's blond you were talking to as thick as thieves?"

"Well," he began hesitantly. My brave human who had walked into a den of vampires was now nervous that I had caught him flirting. I tried not to be amused at his expense and failed miserably.

"I'm not angry, Javier. I'm curious."

"I know her from the capital and we often see each other during quarterlies since she's one of Davidson's feeders. He always attends, so she's almost always there, and..."

"You care for her?"

Javier paused, like it was a confession. "Yes."

"Do you want me to acquire her? Well, rather, to try to acquire her?"

He looked surprised. "I think she's happy where she is, Mistress."

"All things being equal, would you rather be together?"

"Yes."

"Would she?"

"I believe so."

"Then, I'll see what I can do."

He nodded, and then he looked at me questioningly. "Why do you want to do this, Mistress?"

I smiled at him. "Why do I do anything?" I asked, but then I answered for him before he could get a chance to attempt a response. "Think of it as a reward for your impeccable performance."

And playing at matchmaking humans was one more valuable defense standing between me and the ever encroaching tedium.