Helen called a meeting with Will, Henry and Nikola in the morning. Big Guy was dusting in the background, but Nikola was quite sure he wasn't there by accident.

"Gentlemen" Helen began, "We need to discuss our strategy for freeing the HAPs being held by High Lord Dramelin."

Will added "But it's not just those HAPs; it has to be anyone being held prisoner in Vampireland."

"Vampireland?" Nikola said with disapproval.

Will responded "Whatever you want to call it. We really don't have any idea about how many and what type of folks are being held as captives or slaves by your people."

Helen nodded in agreement. "He's right Nikola. We don't have any idea how big the problem is yet."

The vampire replied testily "There are no human, HAPs, or intelligent Abnormals of any kind being held against their will on the surface of the earth, we have to go underground and dig for trouble?"

Will granted the point. "Of course there are, and we handle the problem as we can, but since you are the vampire king we can do a great deal of good with very little effort."

"Very little effort? You're speaking for yourself, William. I'm the one who found Ginger, I'm the one Ginger dissected and now I'm supposed to go rescue some more Abnormals all by myself regardless of how much danger that might put me in?" Nikola shot back.

Helen said gently "Nikola, you won't be alone. That's what this meeting is about, keeping you safe while rescuing whoever needs it from the vampire society."

"That's my point. You can't keep me safe. You needed vampires to rescue me from Ginger. Henry was your best option last trip to Vampireland and look what happened, I nearly got challenged to a duel to the death and now we have another rescue mission to put me in danger. We're talking about me going into a mob of thousands of vampires, any one of which could challenge me and kill me and all you can offer me is this" Nikola said loudly, waving his arms to indicate everyone else in the room. He sat back in his chair in a huff.

Helen realized then that he was still shaken by what Ginger had done to him and feeling vulnerable, especially since he wasn't at his best physically. "All right Nikola, if you don't want to go I'll call Queen Ana and see if I can talk her into helping" Helen offered.

"Go ahead. Call Grandmother and see what she says" Nikola challenged her.

"And if that doesn't work then I suppose we'll just have to give up" Helen replied; she wasn't serious and everyone knew that. But she watched Nikola shift uneasily in his chair.

Henry sat up straighter. "Hey, wait a minute. You can't leave my fellow Lycans imprisoned by vampires. If he doesn't want to go, I will."

Will protested "That's insane. You'll just end up a prisoner too."

Henry started to shake his head, but it turned into a nod. Seeing him give accept reality, Will scrunched up his face as if he was in pain and offered "Unless maybe I go with him?"

Big Guy had dusted closer to the group. "Henry is not going. I'll go. The vampires wouldn't have any reason to keep me and I'm not afraid of them unlike some people." He looked right at Tesla.

"Ignorance is bliss, you have no idea what you're offering" Nikola commented.

Helen announced "Nikola and I will call Queen Ana first before anyone goes anywhere. Perhaps we can get some information even if she isn't willing to help us any further than that. Nikola, your office or mine?"

Tesla sighed and said "We might as well get it over with. Everybody else out, we don't need comments from the kiddies."

As soon as the others had left, Helen called for Queen Ana and put it on speaker. There was a delay while she was fetched; when she came on the line she sounded even grumpier than usual.

"Now what do you want?"

Nikola said "Queen Ana, before I left Rene came up to me and asked if he could purchase my dog, or at least his services. Apparently your blood son has a pack of HAPs. Is this a widespread practice?"

"How should I know? I have no time for pets, and I care nothing if my subjects dabble in such things."

Helen took over. "Queen Ana, this is Ahelena. We are concerned for any intelligent beings in captivity in your realm. There are no laws against this practice I take it?"

"If they are not vampires they are not very intelligent and are better off being taken care of. Of course there are no laws against this; if vampires wish to give their time and resources to lesser beings it is their choice, although a foolish one."

"But the lesser beings don't have a choice" Helen said pointedly.

"Do your surface creatures get to decide if they want to be in zoos or killed for their meat? Of course not. This conversation is ridiculous. Teslat, do you have anything important to discuss?"

Nikola gave Helen a look that clearly said "I told you so". He said "No, that's all we called about."

"When will you be visiting next?"

"I don't plan to visit until I'm fully healed." But watching Helen's face, he suspected it might be sooner.

Ana hung up. Helen muttered "I wish she would learn to say 'goodbye'."

"It's redundant, and she hasn't been brainwashed into polite social conventions like I have."

Helen just raised an eyebrow in disbelief at his supposed brainwashing. "We'll meet again after lunch."

Nikola got up to leave but she stopped him. "Nikola . . . I know I sometimes ask a lot of you, but it's important to me. If you really feel it's too dangerous for you I'll understand, but I need your help on this one."

The vampire sighed. "You know I'll go if I have to. I'd like to be able to see with both eyes first if I could, just in case I do get challenged."

"How is your eye?"

"It's there but I don't have vision in it yet, and it's still really ugly" he said with disgust.

"How long?"

"Not sure, a day or two."

"I don't expect the situation will change much during that time. We won't go until you're ready."

"Thank you. Still need to meet after lunch?"

"Yes, we should talk about strategy and who will accompany you."

"See you then with my limited two-dimensional vision."

The second meeting went more smoothly. Helen began it by announcing "Nikola has agreed to lead the expedition as soon as his vision has been restored."

Henry asked "Well how long will that be?"

Nikola was back in his favorite armchair, but he'd brought wine with him. "I'll let you know Junior" he said and tasted his wine. He smiled a little at his glass and drank some more.

Henry looked put out at being put off, but said "I'm definitely going."

"Want to see what you passed up?" Nikola teased.

"Other HAPs might be reassured by my presence and they'll probably trust me more than another vampire."

Nikola poured himself another glass. "Except if they've been down there all their lives they probably only understand vampire. Even if they're recent acquisitions, chances are they would be from somewhere not too far away from the surface exits which means likely either a Slavic dialect or perhaps German or even Italian. Do you speak any of those Heinrich?"

"No, I only speak English, but I know you do so you can be my translator."

Will jumped in before Nikola could reply. "Uh, if I could get a word in here, I'd like to go too. I don't know much about vampires and I think I should have the chance to experience their world."

Helen appeared taken aback. "I expected you would be here to handle the paperwork while I accompanied Nikola, but you do have a valid point. Nevertheless . . ."

"I am supposed to be your second in command, and I can't do that if all I do is sign requisitions and help with the team assignments. The vampires are a significant part of the underground world and I'm thinking it's not going to be very long before they're making an impact on the surface as well. This mission is going to be about information and persuasion, and not likely going to be violent so this looks like a good opportunity for some training."

Helen considered. "I did get a great deal of first-hand experience while I was there; if at some point I need you to liaise with Queen Ana, actually having met her would be a plus. Very well, Will, you're assigned to the mission."

Big Guy asked "What about me? I can help especially if anyone needs medical treatment or carrying out."

"Sorry old friend, but with Will and Henry both gone I'll need you here. Without you, the mail would never go out, the place would soon be a shambles, and you can sub for me in the infirmary while I cover Will's area. Erica runs Security as well as Henry as long as she can get a babysitter so I think we'll be covered if Will, Henry, and Nikola visit the vampires for a few days."

"Sounds like a plan" Henry said. "How soon do we leave?"

When everyone turned to look at Nikola he tapped the chair arm nervously and took another swallow of wine. "I'm not sure; definitely not tomorrow."

"But you'll let us know tomorrow if we're leaving the day after or the next day, right?" Will insisted.

"Yeah, I'll tell you tomorrow."

But Nikola was very hard to find the next day. He wasn't in his suite, the library, the wine cellar, the lab, or on the roof with his pigeons. It was very late when Helen heard the outer door to his suite close softly. She got out of bed, put on her robe and tried to enter his apartment, but the connecting door was locked. She couldn't remember a time when Nikola had locked her out. She knocked on the door, got no answer, and knocked louder.

"Nikola? Please unlock the door."

She waited several minutes before she heard his tread approaching and the key turned. He opened the door a few inches and said "What?"

Helen pushed the door open farther. He resisted a little, then gave in and let her enter. She was pleased to see his eye patch gone and two blue eyes looking back at her.

"Your eye- you can see?"

"Just light and dark so far, but at least it's not hideous anymore."

"What have you been doing all day? Everyone has been looking for you."

"Just what you think- hiding and I'm not telling where."

"I know you're nervous about going back to the vampire society but I'm sure Queen Ana would give you as many bodyguards as you'd like."

Nikola looked thoughtful. "She would, wouldn't she. All three of us would be pretty safe as long as Dramelin doesn't allow any challenges, but as soon as we try to take his HAPs or make a law against owning them, bodyguards won't help me. They could keep the kids safe though."

"Do you want me to go instead of Will?"

"You can't keep me safe either, Helen. I just have to take my chances. A couple of weeks ago it wouldn't have bothered me, but now . . ."

Nikola sat down and picked up a glass of wine, but just held it. Helen walked behind him and put her hands on his shoulders and started to give him a massage. "You're very tense."

"It's been so many years since I felt myself vulnerable to injury much less death. Go ahead and shoot Tesla, he just heals right up. But Ginger . . . I keep reliving it, being helpless and having him hurt me and hurt me and hurt me. I don't think I could go through that again."

"There's no reason why you should have to."

"That feels good, don't stop. It could happen again, there's nothing to prevent it. I feel safe here in the Sanctuary. I was feeling safe going to visit my people until that Vadon challenged me. Of course if I die during a duel it would be pretty quick, probably, well maybe. A better fighter could drag it out for a long time, I suppose but it isn't like I would be helpless."

"You're letting your imagination get the better of you Nikola. You always did have a very active mind, but you need to get it under control and stop frightening yourself."

Nikola stretched a little under her hands. "You're right, I have to stop thinking about it and just do it. We'll go late tomorrow; that should coincide with morning for Ana."

Helen slid her hands down to his chest and put her tongue in his ear. Nikola grinned and put down his wine. He turned his head to capture her mouth with his. Then he murmured with his lips gently brushing hers "Your suite or mine?"

"Well, we're already here . . ."

They made love slowly, gently, tenderly, and fell asleep in each other's arms.

Helen dreamed she was in a small boat in rough seas. But the motion was wrong, not the rocking and tilting that would come from the ocean, but sharp jerks and jouncing. Then something shoved her hip hard and she was falling . . .

She awoke when she hit the floor, still tangled in the bed sheet. The bed itself was still moving in an alarming fashion and she quickly scrambled up and back. But it was just Nikola, caught in some nightmare that made him gasp, jerk and writhe.

"Nikola . . . Nikola!" she called trying to wake him without getting too close. It was very dark, just the tiny glow light shining dimly. She turned on the reading lamp next to his bed and that seemed to slow him down. Then the vampire stilled and opened his eyes.

"It's not morning" he said, sounding confused. "Why are you over there?"

"No it's not. You were having a nightmare and shoved me out of bed. Are you all right now?"

"Sure."

But he didn't look all right. He was usually pale, but now he was flushed and sweaty, and he hadn't moved since he woke.

Helen sat down on the bed. "Nikola, you had a bad dream."

"Yeah."

"Ginger?"

"Yeah."

"Have you dreamed of him before?"

"No, I've been in healing mode mostly, I don't really dream then." He finally gathered himself and sat up. "I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

"No, it was just a very rude awakening. Can you go back to sleep? It's three a.m., there's no reason for either of us to be up yet."

He shook his head and got out of bed, his color slowly returning to normal. "You go back to sleep, I'm going to shower and go to the lab."

"You could have PTSD."

"It was just one nightmare Helen. I expect I'll have a few of them considering the circumstances. Go back to bed."

"It's not unlikely. But Nikola, keep me informed of what's going on in that head of yours. There are treatments . . ."

He detoured around the bed and bent over to kiss her. "I'll be fine. But it's probably a good idea to sleep in separate beds for a while. Okay?"

"Okay. But I mean it about reporting your symptoms."

"Yes, Mother." He went into the bathroom and she heard the shower start running. Helen knew Nikola well enough to know he hated showing weakness and she worried he would conceal any psychological problems. But there was nothing she could do at the moment, so she straightened out the bed and went back to sleep.

In the morning after breakfast she went looking for him and found him easily. He was in his lab tinkering, everything perfectly normal.

"Good morning" she sang out as she entered.

"Hi" Nikola replied, not looking up from the small subunit in his hand.

She leaned back against a table and crossed her arms. "What are you working on?"

"I'm attempting to make my dog fence useless to SCIU . . . unless they want to contain a dog."

"Oh?"

"If I can make the amperage reduce in proportion to the number of units connected together, then surrounding anyone wouldn't keep them from going through the field, they'd just get a mild shock; so it would still stop an unreasoning animal, but not a person. The trick is I have to do it with the current physical configuration and by remote control to disable the units they already have."

"That sounds like a challenge." Nikola just nodded and kept working. "What time are you going to see Ana?"

"Four, and I'm going to talk to Rene rather than Ana. She's not interested in the subject and he is."

Helen just made a small sound of agreement. Then she said "I'm going to tell Will about your episode last night."

"Oh come on, 'episode'? It was a nightmare, that's all."

"He's a psychiatrist; if anything happens while you're gone I want him to understand what's happening. Don't bother to argue, my mind is made up."

Nikola looked up, exasperated. "Fine, shout it from the rooftop if you want- 'poor little Nikola had a bad dream'." Helen could see he was getting angry.

"I'm only going to tell Will, and it's for your own protection. How's your vision?"

The change in topic stopped his rant. "Not bad, just a little blurry in the one eye. Really, you have to tell William?"

"Nikola, Will saw what was done to you. Some lingering psychological trauma should be expected after something like that. It's nothing to be ashamed of, let him help you if you need help."

"He saw me laid out like a frog in biology class? Who else saw me that way?"

"Just me and some of the vampires."

"Well the vampires will be impressed by how hard it is to kill me." Nikola worked for a few moments then added "Okay, go ahead and tell William, but it goes no further, agreed?"

"I'll swear him to secrecy."

Helen found Will in his office and told him about Nikola's nightmare. He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and nodded. "That's not surprising, considering what he went through."

"I think his reluctance to leave here is part of it too."

"Possibly, but I'm surprised it would affect him that much considering how much experience he has to weigh against it. Although he's been basically invulnerable for over a century and now he suddenly has first-hand knowledge of how he can be badly hurt, even potentially killed. That would be a shock."

"We'll keep this between us for now. I wanted you to know so you could keep an eye on him in the vampire society. It may just all blow over in a few days and he'll be fine."

"Maybe" Will semi-agreed. He though Magnus was being overly optimistic, but it was normal to hope for the best for someone she loved. He would make his own observations and use his own judgment; it was what he was trained for.

At four Helen met the three men in the gate room. It was odd seeing them going off on a mission with no packs or equipment, just dressed as if they were going to a conference. Nikola wore a medium gray pin-striped three-piece vampire suit, Henry was in his slightly rumpled blue suit, and Will had on jeans, knit shirt, and sports coat. Nikola fidgeted with his hands, Henry had his stuck in his pockets.

"You all have your phones?" Helen checked.

Will recognized she was stressed; she normally would treat them like the professional adults they were instead of worrying if they had basic equipment. Henry said "Yep, and Will and I have stunners and our free human symbols."

Will added "We'll call you if we decide we have to spend the night. Otherwise we should be back late tonight."

Nikola gave her a small kiss. "Don't wait up."

Helen didn't answer; they both knew she would. Nikola activated the gate and the men went through. The light shut off behind them. Helen stared after them a moment and then went to distract herself with work.

When they had exited the gate and stepped off the platform, Nikola stopped and faced his companions. He spoke mostly to Will, but it wouldn't hurt Henry to hear it again.

"This society has very strong rules about rank. I have the highest rank, you two are Top Twos since you're from the surface and that's as high as I can start non-vampires. Vampire ranks start at Three which means everyone outranks you and you need to show deference. Don't challenge anyone with your eyes or your posture, and stay close behind me. As part of my entourage you are safe, on your own you would be in trouble fast. Questions?"

"Maybe Henry and I could talk to the humans and find out about prisoners being held" Will offered.

"The humans here speak vampire and some of the merchants can manage Hungarian or Romanian. It's not likely any of them speak English, at least none that are still living below."

Will nodded and said "So we're basically your baggage."

"Now you have it, William." Nikola turned and unlocked the door, leading them out into vampire territory.

Nikola led them out of Ana's chambers and down long quiet hallways. Eventually he came to a large office with a vampire seated behind a desk. Nikola just strolled in and walked around the desk. Rene Dramelin looked up when he entered, and stood to meet the king.

Nikola stepped past him and seated himself, putting his feet up on the desk. Henry snagged Will and they ended up on the other side of Nikola away from the High Lord, who bowed and asked "How may I help you, Your Majesty?"

"Rene, I've thought about what you said. And you know what? I think we need a law against keeping HAPs or any other intelligent beings as if they were animals."

Rene cocked his head and looked thoughtful. He wandered around to the front of the desk and sat in one of the visitor's chairs. "You are prepared to attempt to free all the humans? You would have an uprising on your hands. Or do you propose creating a separate law for each type of inferior being?"

"I propose freezing slavery at the place it was when I took over as king, and decreasing it from there as we have been doing. No one of any intelligent species should be brought down from the surface or captured here below and imprisoned or enslaved who wasn't already a slave when I got here."

"How do you know my HAPS weren't already here when you came?"

"Were they? I saw no Abnormals when I was here before."

"Perhaps, perhaps not. So you think you can take away all our pets, our hobbies, on a whim?"

"I'm trying to stop slavery; I don't call that a whim. And if you want a pet, get a cat."

"Your Majesty, you have spent too much time among lesser beings, you regard them too highly. I know the Queen would agree with that."

"She would, but she only rules in my place and by my permission."

Rene chuckled a little as if he thought that statement quite amusing. "I can draft such a law, but it will not pass, you already know that Your Majesty. What do you really expect to accomplish?"

Nikola put his feet down and leaned forward. "Rene, vampires cannot be seen as predators. We may be the top of the food chain but that doesn't mean no other beings should have rights. Queen Ana might not like it, but she understands the balance of power right now is with humans, not us, and humans object to anyone they identify with being treated like an animal."

"They identify with dogs?" Rene raised his eyebrows and asked incredulously.

"HAPs look like people most of the time. And frankly, surface humans treat real dogs and cats like their children. Personally, I'm a pigeon man myself. The point is, we need to get all the non-vampires out of here except the humans necessary as blood donors and convert over to animal blood as soon as possible. We're only putting ourselves at risk."

"Vampires once ruled the surface, and we will rule again, Teslat. As king, you must see that we are superior in every way. We have limited our population because of the space constraints here below, but now we are going back on the surface, we will establish ourselves there in numbers and expand exponentially. Human rule is only temporary."

"Of course most vampires are superior to most humans but you know there are exceptions in both directions. My HAP Henry behind me is a better scientist than any vampire in your labs. The human, William, is learning administration from my female and is almost competent at it. Human rule will continue another hundred years, plenty of time for us to get into trouble and lose everything we've gained so far and more."

"So we disagree. But you cannot force me to give up my pack King Teslat, you know that. The changes you have made so far have people lined up to challenge you. Mother and I have squashed that so far, but if our efforts falter . . . how many challenges do you think you can win? I saw your fight; if you were not the challenger and had not chosen knives, you would not have won. If someone challenges you, you will have to fight them however they choose, and you will not win. I think if you continue with this course of action I may put myself at the head of the line, I would not mind being king."

"Really, you're going to tear this whole place apart to keep your pets?"

"It is more than pets; we have fundamental differences of opinion. That does not mean we must be enemies, as long as you do not attempt to force more of your human ideas on us vampires, half-blood Majesty."

Nikola stood up. "Then this conversation is over. I command you to draft the law as I requested, High Lord Dramelin. Then we will see whether or not I can get it to pass."

Nikola swept out with his escort following him. Down the hallway, out of vampire hearing, he gave Will and Henry a synopsis of the conversation. "Any ideas?"

"Couldn't we just, like, break the HAPs out?" Henry asked.

"It's not legal. I'm the king, I can't do stuff like that."

"Are the HAPs nearby?" Will asked quietly.

"Probably in one of the outbuildings. But I don't think Helen would be too happy with me if I let you try it on your own."

"We've gone on a lot of missions, and like you said, we're intelligent beings who can make up our own minds. Henry, you game?"

"Absolutely. At least we can get a few out."

"I didn't hear that. I'm going to go to the gate room and hang around for a while. I'm apt to just turn the gate on when you tell me you're ready to leave and not look at you very closely. You remember where it is?"

Henry nodded and turned to go, then turned back. "Um, which way is the back door?"

Nikola gave them directions and walked slowly toward Queen Ana's quarters.