Control

Chapter One

Knowledge is freedom, Hope repeated her mother’s words in her head as she watched from a bush as her camp was raided and her mother’s book… the precious books were being fondled and tossed in a box. They were being handled with such carelessness that it made her eyes tear up.

“What do you make of this, Locke?” one of the men asked the man who was apparently leading the group. “I mean… books?”

“I don’t know,” Locke said looking at the titles briefly as he threw the books into a box. “As far as I can tell the bloodbags must be reading.”

One of the men scoffed. “It’s more likely that they’re looking at the pictures,” he said

“A Tale of Two Cities isn’t known for its’ pictures, boy,” Locke said dryly holding the book in question up for examination.

“But… they can’t read,” the man said looking afraid.

“That wasn’t always true, in case you’ve forgotten,” Locke said.

“Locke, wait,” the first said looking around cautiously. “What if they’re still around?”

“Salem, if they’ve read those books they’ll know that already,” Locke said shrugging his broad shoulders. “Besides, they are only humans.” He looked around and Hope could have sworn that his glacial eyes met hers for a moment before moving on. “Not very smart humans either. Carrying all of this around would have slowed them down.”

“So there’s more than one?” Salem asked.

“Perhaps.”

“Should we wait?” the other man said.

“Sunrise is only two hours away,” Locke announced. “Besides, they won’t be back, especially with us standing here.”

“You bring up a good point,” Salem nodded. “Besides, I have a woman waiting in bed for me.”

“And I have a hot shower,” Locke said.

“We need to get you laid,” Salem announced as Locke picked up the box

“What? With one of those slave girls?” Locke asked. “Yeah, no thank you.”

“Hey, there’s something to be said for having a woman that lives to please you,” the third man said.

“There’s also something to be said for passion,” Locke said leading the men away from the camp. Hope bit her lip before following them.

“My girl and I have passion,” the man protested.

“There’s no passion from a woman whose only purpose is pleasing you,” Locke said dismissively.

“Ugh, you are so damn old fashioned,” Salem said disgusted. “So why not date a vampire?”

“If I want to get castrated in my sleep I will,” Locke snorted.

“You are so hard to please,” Salem said rolling his eyes but not denying the harsh nature of their kind.

“Look, I’m fine as I am,” Locke said. “I’m just a little bored.”

“A woman to warm your bed would help.”

“God, you have a one track mind.” Hope followed them into the town her eyes huge. She had never been in a vampire town before. She steeled herself as the vampire named Locke stopped in front of a huge house. Since it was close to dawn the streets were empty. The other man, Salem, stopped with him, the third walked away.

“Locke, I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t be. If I get lonely, I’ll find myself a girl. It’s about time for me to settle down, anyhow.”

“Yes. Well, Anabel is waiting up for me. Goodnight.”

“You too, old friend.” Locke nodded before taking the box of her belongings inside.

Locke dropped the box inside his bedroom, he figured he’d throw it out tomorrow. The girl was reading, he had known when they had stumbled upon the camp that it’s only occupant was a lone woman. She traveled alone, carrying a blasted library with her and had somehow managed to stay free. If he had been able, he would have left the wench her books. Unfortunately, that was against the rules. Any supplies found had to be taken.

An un-enslaved human was considered dangerous, this one intrigued him though. What would possess a human to risk their lives over some books? How had she learned to read anyhow? He picked up one of the most battered books Stephen King’s The Stand. It was a horror novel but the perseverance of the humans over the forces of darkness was a strong theme.

He inhaled the book’s scent allowing it to tell him everything it could about its owner. She was female, young- he figured that she was probably in her early twenties. Her scent was healthy and clean. His fangs lengthened as he wished to meet her. It had been so long since he had either been with a woman or fed directly from someone.

It had been almost two hundred years ago since the takeover had begun. Tired of lurking in shadows the vampires had decided to step up and announce their presence. It hadn’t gone well and after a war the vampires had taken over. Locke supposed that the war could have been bloodier. In all reality there hadn’t been that many casualties.

The humans were either placed in slavery or farmed. Locke wasn’t sure which option was worse. The farmed humans were treated as livestock. They were taken out and drained nearly to the point of unconsciousness, then placed back in their pens. They were forced to breed, the babies stayed with their mother’s until they were sixteen then they were trotted out onto the auction block. The pretty children were bid on and made into slaves. The others were taken back to the farms.

Being a slave was probably worse, he reasoned. At least livestock had some rights. A slave existed only to please their master. They were given a collar which the owner controlled with their minds. A single thought and the collar electrified or tightened until the slave strangled. Their only job was to sate the sexual, and blood needs of their master. If they were good little slaves they may be granted with immorality, it was more likely, however, that one day they’d be drained.

Locke stepped out of the shower and dried himself off. Still naked he strode into the kitchen and drained a bag of blood. With a yawn he walked back into his bedroom. Exhausted, he fell onto his bed, not bothering to get dressed.

Hope took a deep breath and wondered yet again if she had lost her mind. She needed the picture, though. It was the only reminder that she had of her mother. She had stored it safely inside her copy of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Hope remembered her mother’s excitement when the artist had offered to sketch their picture in exchange for a few nights of food and shelter.

She tried the door but it was, of course, locked. Luckily, the basement door was now. She propped it open and climbed inside. Unfortunately, the stairs were out and she fell, hitting her head on the hard concrete floor. Her vision swam, and she tried to get up, only to fall back down grasping her head. Her vision swam again, then darkened, and then she knew no more.