2:

Frances

I saw a young man in the lunchroom the next morning. He had short blond hair and a handsome face, and he liked to gesture with his hands. I saw him getting off the bus when we first came to the camp, and I noticed he still showed much enthusiasm, like being a Soldier of the Sun really mattered to him. A cute but brooding fellow next to him seemed to be watching the young man with a sense of envy. I wondered who was the better Soldier.

"Who is that man over there?" I asked Kimberly, pointing to the blond one.

She squinted her eyes to look at him from our table across the way and waved her hand like it had little matter to her, answering quickly, "Oh, that's Jason Crackmouse or something."

"Crackmouse?" I asked, sure that she was mistaken.

Kimberly glared at me and stated, "I don't know, whatever! It doesn't matter."

I pointed at the brooding one and asked, "Who is that?"

A big smile spread across Kimberly's face and she answered pridefully, "That's Luke. He's here to be the best Soldier of the Sun the Newlins have ever seen."

I kept my eyes on Luke, which Kimberly took personally, adding with a dark tone, "Don't try your chances with him, though. He doesn't have time for girls when he's going to make an example of the vampires in this country."

"Right," I looked away so Kimberly wouldn't lecture me further.

I waited until after breakfast to track Luke down. He was walking with Jason back to the boys' cabin, so I called from behind, "Pardon me."

Both boys turned to face me. Jason smiled genuinely and nodded his head, replying, "Hello, young lady."

Luke smiled but his expression was less friendly as he asked, "Is there something you need, Miss?"

"I just wanted to tell you how honored I am that you're here with us. I've been told you're a true Soldier of the Sun, and I'm here to say that I support that, through and through."

Jason smiled and gave Luke a slap on the back, saying, "Lookie here. You've got yourself a supporter, Luke!"

Luke glared slightly at Jason, then reinforced himself by saying, "Yeah, I do, Stackhouse."

Stackhouse. That was his last name. I made a mental note while Jason continued to smile at Luke, seemingly unaware that Luke had a bit of hatred for him. I took my leave, waving as I said, "Honesty."

"Honesty!" Jason waved back, but Luke just nodded politely.

:-:

Steve Newlin

"Frances! I'm glad you're here, I would like to ask you to do something for me, young lady."

She stopped when I called to her and looked at me like a deer caught in the headlights. Her lack of self-confidence only made it easier for me to depend on me to guide her.

I put my arm around her shoulder and walked her with me, telling her, "I need you to go down to the basement and ask our vampire prisoner if he needs anything."

She tensed under my grasp. I knew from her history that vampires repulsed her, but the physical discomfort she was showing made me believe that she was even more turned off by them than I formerly decided. Yet another reason why she was so perfect for my plan.

"What should I do if he asks for something, Reverend Newlin?" her eyes were somber as she looked up at me.

I pointed my finger right between those eyes of her and replied, "You give it to him. Unless it's weapons of mass destruction, of course!"

I laughed at my own joke, but Frances appeared to be frozen in place. I added more seriously, "He is a vampire spawn of the devil, but we must treat him with some dignity, as we are Southerners and it's the right thing to do."

She nodded and I directed her to the basement, letting her go in front of the church. She looked back at me with an unsure expression, but I waved her on and said, "You go and do what the good Reverend tells you to, Frances Bean!"

"Yes, sir," she turned around and went determinedly into the church.

If Godric is indeed a vampire spy, this young one is going to find out for me.

:-:

Frances

I heard laughter as I opened the basement door. I started down the stairs and the laughter stopped. The voices were too low to understand, but I was sure they were talking about my presence. I caught sight of the vampire prisoner once I reached the end of the steps, but I had to come around before I saw another tall man standing in front of the vampire's cage. He was wearing Light of Day Camp sweat clothes and he had a deep scowl on his face. He looked ugly and deviant, but knew my name as he said, "Welcome, Miss Frances Bean."

He appeared to be a Soldier of the Sun, but he did not seem offended by the vampire prisoner. I felt a sense of mistrust toward him, but my sense was interrupted when the vampire said in a soft voice, "Frances. That is an old name."

He said it like he was certain of his words. The ugly man chuckled at the vampire and asked, "Not as old as the name Godric, I reckon."

Godric. That was the vampire prisoner's name.

Smiling slightly, Godric replied, "Not quite."

I cleared my throat and explained my reason for being there, "Reverend Newlin has asked if you are in need of anything, Mister..."

"Just Godric. No thank you, Miss Bean, I have no desires at the moment," he answered.

No last name. Yet another clue that he was very old, despite his physical features appearing close to my age. I wondered what a web search of his only name would provide?

"Nothing for me, either. I'm Gabe, by the way," the ugly man interrupted my thoughts.

I politely but sternly told him, "Reverend Newlin didn't ask me to get anything for you."

An intriguing half-smile crossed Godric's face, making me lock eyes with him again. I was sure he was laughing quietly, his appearance like a young rebel about to witness a squabble that will free him from his boredom.

Sniffing loudly, Gabe mentioned more to Godric than myself, "Got quite the mouth."

"I should get back," I turned to leave.

Godric told me as I went up the stairs, "I hope to see you again soon, Miss Bean."

He sounded like he meant that remark.

:-:

Sarah Newlin

The young girl Frances Bean was always in Steve's view. I had seen them talking more than once. He's been sending Frances down to talk to our vampire prisoner, which is making me wonder what she has that's putting all that attention on her.

"Steve, how do you feel abut Frances Bean?" I asked him over dinner.

His brow furrowed while he tried to think and chew food at the same time. He asked after he swallowed, "How do I feel?"

"You've been taking her down to see the vampire prisoner, Godric. Is she taking information from him so she can tell is for sure that he's a spy?" I asked.

Steve ignored my question, replying instead, "She is a Soldier doing her duty for our church, Sarah. There is nothing more you need to know."

"Well, I don't need the details, but you've been spending so much time with her, and..."

He put a finger up to stop me, stating, "Not another word. She is working for me and that is all."

I had so much more to say, but when Steve gives me the finger, I know I have to stop.

:-:

Frances

"Daddy taught me to love all humans. Daddy taught me to love all humans. Daddy taught me to love all humans..." Theresa chanted from her bed in the darkness of night.

Her brown curls fell around her face while she prayed. I had talked to Theresa a few times, and although she had good reasons for being here, seeing that vampires killed her parents and her little sister, she was so full of rituals and prayers that we were all getting tired of her.

"Would you shut it up, already?" Kimberly shouted loudly from her own bed.

Theresa was startled out of her prayer, turning to face Kimberly as she explained, "I'm not finished yet!"

"You've been saying the same thing for half an hour! I'm sure God heard it!" Kimberly argued.

"Why do you have to go an' be so mean, Kim?" Theresa pouted.

Kimberly sat up and remarked sarcastically, "Maybe it's because there are some people that I can't stand even more than vampires!"

Theresa burst into tears and rushed out the door. I got up and followed after her, not wanting her to be alone outside in the dark. I put my hands on her shoulders to ease her sobs, telling her, "Don't listen to Kimberly. She's just tired is all."

Turning to face me with puffy eyes, Theresa screamed, "No, she's always like that! I hear there's a vampire in the basement of the church, and one of these nights I swear I'm going to send her down there to meet him!"

I scolded her, "Theresa! How dare you say something like that?"

She grew quiet, telling me, "I'm sorry, I just get so mad at her sometimes. Don't tell her I said that, okay?"

"I won't. I would never tell her," I replied honestly.

Theresa sniffled and made her way back inside. I took one last look around and I saw Gabe standing outside of the other girls' cabin across from us. He was in the moonlight, watching me like he wanted to come over and tell me something. I quickly turned around and went back inside.

Gabe was not the kind of man I wanted to talk to in the dark.