"I'll ask you one final time, then, Jamie. Do you want to join me and help with my plans?"

I had already made up my mind, so the answer came easily. "Yes."

She looked pleased with my answer, but there was no gloating as I had thought there might be. After all, was I not finally doing what she wanted?

But I was also doing what I wanted and from that brought a calm comfort. I wanted to be a part of whatever would finally free humans from the clutches of the leeches. I wanted to kill more of them, at least more of the worst of them.

I met her eyes. They looked so incredibly human, not a trace of red to be seen. "But no more of your games."

She sighed heavily. "That's a difficult thing you're asking. You're asking a leopard to change her spots, and that might just be impossible."

She smiled as I continued to meet her eyes steadily. If she wanted my cooperation as I believed she did, I was not going to fall back into being a toy for her amusement. I could practically see her thinking through my words behind that beautiful face, and finally she responded.

"I can't guarantee that, Jamie, but I can promise to try."

That was likely the best I was going to get. I nodded.

"So, I suppose you're wondering what happens next, now that you've agreed to join my rebellion. It's a good question. You'll still have to act the slave as the others do around outsiders, including humans who are unaware—which is most of them, except my guards and the humans at New Haven—and around all vampires. This means wearing the collar, the whole 'Mistress' thing anytime we could possibly be heard by anyone who is not in my inner circle, etcetera, etcetera. I have my reputation as an excellent breaker of humans to maintain." She laughed softly as if it were the most amusing thing she had ever imagined.

There was a certain sweetness in the way she was playing while undermining the other vampires that I could definitely appreciate.

"Obviously, the secret to my perfectly obedient humans is that my closest humans want to do as I say for their own reasons. Most other vampires compel and coerce, but not me Of course, like all the others you'll have to follow the chain of command for the good of the cause. Now I just need to figure out where to put you."

She was watching me as if trying to figure out a puzzle. "I've wanted you as one of my guards since the moment I saw you, but sadly, I can't keep you here with me, because you're a liability. Too many of the uninvolved know you staked me and ran. I think you'd be wasted in my factories and then there's also the issue that you are no longer branded, unless you'd like to rectify that?"

"No."

She smiled at my refusal as if greatly amused yet again. "I suppose that means we'll have to find you a place at New Haven."

My memories of that place were mostly of the storage room and guilty frustration, but it was also a beacon of hope in a way. I nodded.

She smiled. "Perhaps I shall give you to Connor as an assistant. Yes. That might work, and like Leif, he needs more help, and you've got certain experiences that will be quite invaluable. The fact that you've prevailed in multiple fights with vampires should also be most encouraging for the other humans. They have a tendency to feel pessimistic from time to time."

"Most of my kills were self-defense when I got into tight spots," I reminded her, although in truth taking them out had felt extremely good. She was the only vampire that I had not enjoyed staking, so far.

"I know. But isn't that the truth for every time you fight a vampire, when you get down to the heart of the matter? Prey versus predator?"

"Seems so. Or maybe host versus parasite."

She chuckled at my words, completely unbothered by the fact my words were as much an insult to her as to the others. "Also an apt description. Oh, and I shall allow you to simply call me Vienne when we can't be overheard, like here. The others do, so you might as well join them, if you wish."

I considered the idea and nodded. She smirked her pleasure and conflicted resentment did not flood through me like it used to. At some point, something had changed. I did not hate her.

"We're going to have to take you to New Haven in secret. The uninformed will draw their own conclusions at your disappearance, probably assuming I killed you for your treachery. It's better if they think staking me is a dangerous idea, although you're unique in that you could get close enough to me and get away with it in any case."

"I—"

"Discard your guilt, as I told you before. It's in the past. It was interesting, although I admittedly did not enjoy the recovery time afterwards. It was most tedious. And the sympathy was most repugnant. Still, I believe I'm safe in gambling that you'll never attempt that again against me. Although there are some parts I would gladly repeat."

"I won't," I said, but my mind reeled to keep up with the twists of hers. Was she referring to the moment I had kissed her to distract her?

She continued on as if we talking about the weather rather than the time I had shoved a dagger into her heart. "It might take you a bit of time to completely win over the other humans, but in the meantime, what I say will go. As the founder of this delightful little insurrection, my words do hold a fair amount of sway."

She smiled at me again, but the predatory edge was missing. "I'm going to need you to stay down here until I get everything set up. A couple days at most. There's several bedrooms down the hall, take the one you want and make yourself comfortable. I'll send someone down with whatever you'll need."

Gracefully, she rose to her feet in a sensuous movement. "I am truly glad you came back."

She left before I could think of a response, my eyes fixed on her sway until she disappeared from my sight.

* * * * *

The rooms were quite similar to the one I had shared with Theo, although they each had only a single bed. I picked the one closest to the washrooms for the sake of convenience since there was no discernible difference.

This place was oddly isolating, quiet like I was the only living being in the area. The slight damp of the air confirmed that I was underground and brought to mind the cells beneath the council chambers, although this place bore no resemblance in any other way.

Resting on the bed, I questioned my decisions. Now that she was away from me, I could think clearly again. Had I made the right decision in returning?

I did not know what drove me, but she had not forced me to return. If anything, she had sent me away with the intent to be rid of me.

But I had decided. I wanted in, and if it involved dealing with an aggravating leech to do it, then I would do so, although she did not seem quite as frustrating as before when she spoke to me plainly.

She wandered through my mind again, that smirking expression that spoke of unspoken secrets across her delicate features. Her lips—

Damn, returning had probably been a mistake.

But what else would I do? This was the most reasonable way to take out the maximum number of leeches in the long run. The complication she represented was just something I would have to deal with.

My solitude was interrupted by quick footsteps and I rose to meet the one who was coming. I opened the door and a young guard I recognized but did not really know stood holding a container. "Need anything?" he asked. I had not paid much attention to him before.

"No. I'm fine. Thanks."

"I'm Soren, by the way." His mannerisms reminded me of an overenthusiastic puppy.

"Jamie."

"I know," Soren agreed. "Is it true that you've already killed vampires?"

I shrugged. "Yeah."

"How?"

"I took them by surprise. Which isn't that hard because they underestimate humans."

"That's what our mistress says, too," he said. "How many have you killed?"

"Well..."

"Oh, but I'm supposed to give you this." He thrust the box at me. It had clothing and toiletries stacked neatly inside, as well as the bag I had been hauling with me out in the wilds. "And she said to remind you to shave, 'cause she says you'll be less recognizable that way."

She had a point. I took the box and set it on the bed before I turned back to the kid.

"I guess I should leave you to it. I'll be back with something for you to eat after you get cleaned up," he promised, letting the door shut behind him.

Since there was no reason to fight her, I went and did as she wished, shaving my face before enjoying the luxury of hot water once again after my weeks of roughing it. Then I dressed in the new simple clothing, and I waited for Soren to come back with something for me to eat. When he finally did, he bombarded me with questions, which I mostly answered.

He, at least, did not seem to be holding the fact I staked her against me.

I waited, and eventually I fell asleep.

* * * * *

I was disturbed by the sound of footsteps in the hall outside the room and brought to full wakefulness by a knock on the door.

"Yeah?" I said as I opened it.

She was there, wearing another curve hugging dress, and I met her eyes. "Did I wake you?"

"It's fine. What time is it?" I walked out into the hall.

"It's around eight in the morning. You must have been really tired, you don't usually sleep that late." She began to walk back to the living room we had sat in the previous day.

"Wow. Good to know I'm being watched so closely."

She did not look even slightly embarrassed. "I have no regrets that I had them watching you so closely. You were obviously not to be trusted."

My annoyance flared. "You could have trusted me if I had known everything."

"Even if I had told you, it would not have stopped you from trying to go after Jack."

She had me there.

"And while you did prove your determination, I really thought Ivan would kill you. I never imagined you would manage to come back. I'm certain you never went up against an ancient one before." Her brows knitted together with her displeasure at the thought.

"I waited until the council meeting."

She smirked her amusement. "Clever human. I suppose you've been watching me as I've been watching you, haven't you?"

"Maybe." I had apparently been watching her far more than I should have if her prevalence in my dreams was anything to go by.

She took a seat on a sofa and crossed one leg over the other. Her eyes did not leave mine until I sat down across from her with only a low table separating us. She cocked her head at me. "I should probably undo the control I put on your mind."

"You can do that?"

"Of course."

Her eyes bore into mine and her voice took on the songless melody once again. "Jamie, I'm ordering you to forget my previous instructions. The only thing I demand of you now is that you obey no vampires' words other than mine, and that you will not give up any information that would harm the rebellion."

My mind felt disconnected as she spoke, and my stomach mildly nauseous.

"I will not do that again. It's not a perfect protection, either, because it relies on your judgement. It should make you nearly immune to other vampire's compulsion at least, unless they are terribly powerful, but if we end up dealing with one of the most ancient ones now, then we'll likely have bigger problems."

"How are you planning to deal with the most ancient ones?" If they were such a threat we surely needed a plan.

"Very carefully. We're not ready, yet. We're amassing troops and resources, because I intend to win."

I pushed further. "And what about after you win?" I could not help but imagine she might be planning to put the whole world under her feet. While far from ideal, it could only be better than the current state of things since she was much less hostile towards humans than some of the other bloodsuckers.

"Truly, that's a problem for after our victory, although I do intend for humans' lives to be easier."

"Are you planning to eradicate all the other leeches?"

"So bloodthirsty, Jamie," she chided, but her words held no real censure. "You're quite the delight, but I've no desire to kill all the other vampires. Only the worst and most of the council and their supporters, which are quite a lot admittedly. Anyone who stands against the new world I intend to create will have to go. It will take time."

I nodded.

"Vampires have been good for humans in some ways. Before we emerged, humans were all at each other's throats for any number of ridiculous reasons, but once there was a real threat you all got along considerably better. Who cares about superficial differences when monsters were trying to steal your blood and your lives? Only the warmth of the body became important."

"You're not that cold." My words slipped out.

"I'm the temperature of my environment."

I was curious. "Is it true that vampires don't like the cold climates?"

"More or less. Is that why the free humans seem to be migrating north?"

I gaped at her.

She shrugged. "I have some ears to the ground. Did you know they really are using my name like a curse since my feral branding bill? I thought Drak was exaggerating to try to manipulate me, but it turned out to be true." She chuckled.

"That was you?" I thought of the feverish girl. The leech's callousness still had the power to stun me.

She nodded. "Are you getting angry with me again? I thought we had reached something of an accord."

"No." Or maybe I was, but still, "We have."

She frowned. "You must understand. I'm not doing anything out of the goodness of my heart, because my heart stopped long ago. I am pleased that my intentions should have generally positive effects on the human population in the long run. I like humans in general, and I really like specific humans. I wish for humans to thrive as a farmer wishes to see his livestock prosper, but I don't have it in me to care for each individual blade of grass."

"Livestock."

"Touchy. Don't get so caught up on analogies. Humans aren't just livestock, as I said, I rather like you all and your world was better. I don't owe you answers, but I shall explain it to you regardless because I am just oh so generous. The council is rather caught up in all their rules and regulations. Unfortunately, once they get a ridiculous rule in place, it's almost impossible to dislodge. I've never liked marring my humans with the ugly brands, but there's no will in the council to reverse the branding measures."

"So, your solution to not liking branding was more brands?"

She laughed as if it was amusing. "Not exactly. That was so when my humans run around with destroyed brands, they no longer stand out as escaped humans belonging to a vampire if they get caught. For example, before my branding initiative, Lucas would have basically been trapped at New Haven for the rest of his life and I would never have been able to allow you to leave, game or no game. Even with destroyed brands you would have appeared as runaways. But now you can camouflage as stubborn feral humans who did not take well to the program."

Her self-satisfied pleasure at her plans was evident.

"The cost is too high. I met a girl and she was underage, and they fed on her before they branded her."

She paused. "And so you can see why we need to go to great lengths to get vampires out of power. Do you think that they would have kept their fangs out of her if they had caught her otherwise? Unfortunate, but strategic."

I wanted to argue, but what could I say? Yet another terrible price to pay in a difficult world. It was wrong, but if this had a chance to work...

"Is your rebellion going to succeed?"

She met my eyes. "It will if I have anything to say about it. I've been planning carefully with my trusted humans for a very long time, inching closer."

I already made my choice to trust this contradictory female when I had returned of my own accord. Flawed as she was, her plans still seemed our best chance.