Kuri woke up and Evra and Darren had already gone to hunt for the little people's food.
She heard voices nearby, one familiar.
"...vampyre murders, no, near genocide." Larten said.
"Mr Tall can't think it's us!" Reiko said.
"Of course not." Larten comforted. "But there are some who do not trust you."
"What should we do?" Reiko said. "Find out who is truly responsible?"
Larten shook his head. "Some fights are won by not joining in the bloodshed."
Kuri had heard enough. Of course there were other Vampyres in the world. But Vampyres were creatures of sacred ritual and magick. They didn't kill humans, they got their blood by buying it from bloodbanks, or...no, she couldn't think of the alternative.
Reiko had mentioned to her that Vampyres didn't drink from humans for a reason. It was because it could create a dependence on the part of the human, and that human would follow the vampyre anywhere.
An imprint.
Kuri got dressed, banishing the thoughts, and headed out to the forest.
She ran right into a large, hairy man.
"Huh?! What the—"
"Oh sorry!" The man said. "Did I scare you?"
"Who are you?" Kuri said.
"Oh I'm RV!" RV Said. "Stands for Reggie Veggie. You with the Cirque?"
"Y-Yeah." Kuri said.
Evra and Darren caught up.
"You found RV!" Darren said.
"He's an eco warrior!" Evra said.
Kuri grinned. Typical boys.
"RV. Why don't you come to the Cirque tonight." Kuri produced a ticket.
"How'd you—" Darren began, but Kuri put a finger to her lips. Darren knew better; sometimes Kuri just knew thing others didn't.
"I'd love that, man!" RV said.
Xxx
Kurda trusted her enough to leave her alone while he hunted now. Kiana looked out the window for a while, then she turned on the tv.
"…serial murders," continued the reporter. "There have been reports that these murders may be vampyre related. The High Priestess, Neferet, is here to answer our questions—"
Kiana hissed and screamed like a hellcat.
She threw the remote at the tv and shattered it.
"Kiana! What have you done?!"
Kurda stood there, in the doorway.
"You have been slipping in and out of consciousness," Kurda explained almost to himself. "And you must be responsible for all of those human deaths. Do you wake from your sleep with thoughts only of blood and darkness?"
"No!" Kiana yelled. You changed that! I couldn't, I wouldn't hurt anyone ever again.
"I'm sorry," Kurda said sorrowfully, strapping her down again.
The Show Must Go On
Kuri and Darren were working on their chores when a buzz settled over the camp.
"What's going on?" Kuri wondered.
Reiko came over. "Cormac Limbs is back!"
"Sounds like you knew he was coming." Darren said pointedly.
"Yes well, Larten might have mentioned it." Reiko pouted.
"Larten." Kuri said teasingly.
"Yes, Larten!" Darren laughed.
"Oh shut up." Reiko blushed.
They joined the crowd as Cormac approached.
"Well who are you small fry?" Cormac said.
The three introduced themselves.
"We're vampires." Reiko said. "We've never seen your act."
Cormac theatrically gasped. "N-Never seen my...Weeell! Aren't you three youngins in for a treat!"
Cormac extended his finger to Kuri and whispered something to her. Her eyes widened, and she smirked.
Kuri then sunk her teeth into Cormac's finger and bit it clean off, dropping it to the ground.
Darren and Reiko gasped.
"How could you do that?!" Darren said.
Kuri put a finger to her lips mysteriously, and pointed to Cormac, who was writhing theatrically, then held up his hand, as the digit grew back.
"Whoa!" Darren and Reiko chorused.
"Ha ha!" Cormac grinned.
Everyone oohed and aahed for Cormac, and expressed their joy at his return.
Silently Mr Tall made his way into the crowd. "Everyone! Your attention! The time has come—and the Show Must Go On!"
xxx
Kurda watched Kiana sleep. He'd heard about the new string of deaths, and knew it must be her.
He just couldn't believe it, after all the progress they'd made.
How could this happen?
How could this happen?
How could this happen?