A/N: This story is rated M for a reason, and this chapter will be graphic, possibly more graphic than some may like. This will not be for the faint of heart. You've been warned. Thank you.

Chapter 10

As Kristin went to sit next to Antonio, Nathan noticed the two were whispering quietly. He turned away to see if there happened to be a clock in the room. He wanted to know how long they'd been waiting and hoped it wouldn't be much longer because he felt nauseous. He was disappointed when he didn't see one. But, finally, the door opened.

"Sorry to keep you all waiting," Dr. Blood said.

"It's alright," Nathan said, stepping forward with his hand extended.

"Hello, Captain. Nice to see you again." He nodded towards Kristin, who rose to stand next to Nathan. "Doctor."

"Hello," Kristin said. She put her arm around Antonio's and ushered him forward. "Doctor, this is Antonio."

"Antonio," he said, shaking his hand. "So, you are one of the vampires?"

"That's correct, Sir. And, this is Gabrielle, Sonja, and Daniel," Antonio said.

Dr. Blood shook each one's hand and greeted them. "So nice to meet all of you. So, how did you become vampires exactly?"

"We were part of a government experiment during the war. Unfortunately, there were some side effects," Antonio said.

"I see," Dr. Blood answered. "How long ago?"

"Six years," Gabi answered. "We've been hiding in the abandoned underwater facility where it happened until these kind people rescued us."

"Well, how lucky you were then," Dr. Blood commented. "Well, I suppose you'd like to see what we have to offer you then?"

"Please," Antonio said.

"Follow me then. We've only an hour until the show begins."

So, everyone followed the doctor as he showed them around the facility. Nathan turned to look for Kristin, but Antonio already had his hand held tightly around her waist; Nathan sighed and turned his attention back to the tour.

And so, Dr. Blood started in the coffin room. "Here," he explained, "we ask that all inhabitants choose a coffin. I do realize it's cliché, but it does help with the sleeping arrangements. Does that pose a problem?" he asked of the GELF's.

"Not at all," Antonio said. The others nodded.

"Good," Dr. Blood continued. "If you do decide to stay here, we would require you to wear this." He showed them a collar, the same ones Kristin and Nathan had seen in the Internex article. "It's really just for precautionary purposes, you understand. We've only had to actually utilize the full-force of the collars a handfull of times. With humans working here, we have to protect ourselves. And, I promise, you will be fed well."

"And just how does that work exactly?" Nathan asked.

"How does what work? The collar?" inquired.

Nathan shook his head. "No, the feeding."

"Oh, you see it's really quite interesting. We mainly rely on the Internex for this. But, let me start by giving you an example here. I would like to nominate someone to be a victim for the vampires. Let's say you. So, I would load your name and picture on the Internex. At the same time, other people will have put their own nominees on as well. Then, voters will decide whom they want to choose. The nominee with the most votes is the winner."

"So, let's say I won," Nathan said, "and I was against it."

Dr. Blood laughed. "Do you think all our victims want to be a vampire's meal?"

"Well, the Internex said that the victims actually believe that," Kristin broke in.

"That's because we make them think that, with the help of a needle," Dr. Blood explained. "But, in their right minds, no one would want that fate."

"Who the hell would develop a drug like that?" Nathan asked in disgust.

"Our scientist asks that he remain anonymous. But, without it, these vampires would be unleashed into regular society; no one would want that."

"Well, they only exist because of you," Nathan said.

Dr. Blood shook his head. "No, I only created a few. The rest created each other."

Confused glances were exchanged. "You can't make others vampires?" Dr. Blood asked the GELF's.

"I have no idea," Antonio said. "We've never tried."

"Well, here if a vampire exchanges blood with a human, meaning if they drink from one another simultaneously, the human will become a vampire. However, since we have over one thousand vampires here now, no vampires are made without clearance from me."

"And they all abide by that?" Nathan questioned.

"Yes, they do. They realize the necessity for the law. Now, over here..." Dr. Blood continued showing them around the facility.

Soon, the tour was over. "Now," Dr. Blood said, "We would like you to be our special guests to see our show." He looked them up and down. "But," he continued, "We will need you to change."

"Change?" Kristin asked.

"Yes, I suppose you didn't know this was a formal affair. Luckily, we have a few extra formal dresses and suits for impromptu guests." He called a woman over. "Catherine, would you show these ladies to the dressing rooms and find something for them suitable to wear?"

Catherine nodded, and Kristin, Gabrielle, and Sonja followed her.

"And you men can follow me."

A short time later, all emerged in formal garb. Nathan, Antonio, and Daniel looked debonnaire in expensive looking suits. Sonja and Gabrielle were dressed in pastel gowns. Gabi dressed in lilac, and Sonja dressed in pale yellow. Kristin, in contrast, was dressed in a deep burgundy-colored, strapless, velvet gown with a plunging neckline that showed off her assets quite well. On her hands, she wore long, matching gloves that came up to to her forearms. Although Nathan thought she looked gorgeous, he didn't like the way Antonio was eyeing her up.

She noticed Nathan staring at her. "Well, well, you look smashing, Captain."

"You don't look too bad there yourself, Doctor." He offered his arm to her. "Shall we?"

But Antonio grabbed Kristin's other arm. Kristin looked at Nathan apologetically. "I'll see you inside."

Nathan watched as the two walked into the theatre door. "Sure," Nathan said quietly as he followed after.

Inside, Nathan was surprised at how many people were in the theatre. He had to wonder why people would come to see such a show. But, then, he remembered how some people are truly fascinated by the macabre. He turned to Kristin to ask her something, but she and Antonio were locked in an embrace; Antonio kept whispering something into her ear, making her laugh. Nathan felt his blood boil. All he could think was that he was looking forward to seeing these GELF's leave. He was grateful when the houselights dimmed and Dr. Blood took the stage.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Dr, Blood began. "Thank you for coming to our little show, I see some new faces in the audience, and some old ones. We hope you enjoy it." With that, Dr. Blood exited the stage, and the curtain rose.

Music began playing. "Music to eat by?" Nathan thought. It was a piece by Vivaldi. As the lights rose on the center of the stage, a group of five men and five women stood on a riser fashioned to look like a mountain. Suddenly, chanting filled the air. The lights lit the entire stage suddenly and the stage was filled with hundreds of people surrounding the mountain. The people were dressed in rags as beggars. Nathan wondered if it was just for the show or if the people were truly poor. Smoke encircled them as one of the female vampires stepped forward.

"I am the Goddess Gaia. Who will be my first victim?"

The people suddenly started chanting. "Me. Me. Choose me, Goddess; choose me."

As the Gaia tried to choose, the people started chanting, "Gaia, Gaia, Gaia."

Finally, Gaia chose a young man, pulling him up on the mountain with her. She turned him so the audience could get a good look at him. Gaia simply said, "The first victim." And the whole audience cheered. Gaia embraced the young man. Everyone was quiet as she did so, so that a sickening crack could be heard. Nathan was sure she must have broken the young man's ribs. She bore her fangs and sunk them into the young man's neck, drank her fill, and tossed the body aside. She faced the audience with blood dripping down her chin as everyone cheered.

Then, the stage became a virtual bloodbath as all the vampires joined in, feasting away. The sound of ripping flesh, breaking bones, and slurping of blood filled the air. Nathan was shocked; he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He suddenly wondered what Kristin was thinking. He looked down the row of chairs to where she was sitting, and to his surprise, she seemed to be enjoying the gruesome scene. She was cheering right along with everyone else.

Nathan disgustedly turned his eyes back to the stage. He watched as Gaia chose one victim after the next. She was probably the most interesting one to watch because she truly made the feast theatrical. She grabbed one victim and broke his neck, practically severing his head from his body, causing a spray of blood to shoot from the artery. She then reached in and plucked out his heart, still beating in her hand. As the blood trickled down her arms, she held the organ over her mouth and let the blood drip into her mouth.

And, the feast continued like this. But, as the last victim was finished, the vampires suddenly stopped. Some attendants in white clothing came out, collars in hand. Each vampire was fitted with his or her collar and taken off stage. Then, Dr. Blood took the stage once again.

"Well, I hope you've enjoyed our little show." And everyone cheered once again. "Please come again." And with that, the house lights came up and everyone started leaving.

Of course, Nathan, Kristin, and the GELF's stayed seated until Dr. Blood came to get them. Soon, they were all back in the state room.

"So, what did you think of our show?" he asked.

"Well, it was interesting," Nathan said.

"Yes, well, actually, I was speaking to your vampire friends. Do you think you'd like to live here?"

Antonio said, "I think this is the only place that will accept us for who we are."

Dr. Blood smiled. "Wonderful. Well, I suppose you should say goodbye to your friends then, and then, we'll pick out your coffins. I'll give you some time alone."

And, so Nathan said goodbye to them and turned to Kristin. "I'll give you sometime alone?"

Kristin nodded. So Nathan waited patiently as she and Antonio said goodbye, or at least Nathan thought that was what she was saying. When she finished, she went up to him and said, "Nathan, I've changed my mind. I'm not leaving."