006 Sunrise

Sunrise found the teens crammed into the town square, along with everyone else in the town, chivvied and pushed along by Hydiacs. No one could get an accurate count—too many people surging back and forth, trying to find room and sure footing—but Vida guessed maybe a fifth of the town's population was missing.

Maddie was responding a little better this morning; Vida had handed her over to Xander, counting on his larger frame to protect her. She and Chip stayed close, hanging onto each other to keep from being swept away. They'd lost Toby within minutes of reaching the square.

They hadn't yet seen any sign of Chip or Xander's families.

"Slaves of the Master!"

The noise in the square died away. Only the cries of two or three small children marred the silence.

Chip touched Vida's shoulder, gesturing to the lamppost beside them and linking his fingers. Vida stepped into his hands, launching herself up to catch the crossbar and steadying herself with a foot on his shoulder.

The speaker was a being dressed all in black, with wings that seemed—bizarrely—to grow out of its' head. Behind it was a blonde human girl, studying her nails as though bored.

"You live to serve the Master!" the being proclaimed. It sounded female, but Vida wasn't taking anything for granted any more.

"I am Necrolai, Queen of the Vampires…" Huh. So it was female, then. "And this is my daughter, Leelee." The blonde waved as though on stage instead of a hastily erected platform in a war-torn town. "You will obey any order from us as though it came from the Master himself, is that understood?"

People were cheering. Sickened, Vida took her foot off Chip's shoulder and swung down. "They're cheering. A whole group over there," and she waved vaguely. "Like they're happy this has happened." She glanced over at Maddie; Xander had pressed her face firmly against his chest, and she was clinging on tightly.

"Koragg!" The surprise in Necrolai's voice carried clearly across the square, and Vida gestured to Chip to boost her back up. A third figure had joined the vampires; this was probably a man, wearing armour in purple and black.

Recovering, Necrolai turned to the crowd. "Koragg ranks high in the Master's favour. You will obey him as you would me!"

More cheers from the crowd.

"Music is forbidden! Playing is forbidden! You live only for the Master. Any humans who don't obey will be sent to the mines!"

"Vee!" Xander called. Looking down, she saw him pressed against the lamppost, Maddie still held tight against him. "Get down here!"

She slid down; Chip caught her arm, spinning to press her against the post. "There's going to be a riot," he said into her ear. "Stay still."

"How can…"

"On that side they're cheering. On the other they're screaming. They'll run soon."

Xander slid down suddenly, crouching over Maddie. Chip did the same, tugging Vida down with them. Around them the crowd finally broke, everyone intent on getting away. Chip and Xander hung on grimly, keeping the girls between them.

When the square was only half full Xander scrambled to his feet, pulling Maddie with him. Chip and Vida followed, running for cover in the light of the new day.