David McAfee: 61 A.D.

“She hates me,” Neeya said, frowning.

Ramah nodded. It was no use lying; Neeya knew the truth. “But I don’t.” He bent down and kissed her forehead. “I will speak with her today.”

She turned away and reached for her clothes, but not before he caught the wetness in her eyes. “It will not do any good,” she said. “She will not listen.”

A tear spilled down her cheek, sparkling in the early morning light, and Ramah heard her jagged breath. He reminded himself that, as hard as their love was for him, it must be harder for her. He was Houlo of his village, and as such had many friends and people he could confide in. She had only him.

“I will make her listen,” Ramah vowed.

Neeya shook her head, a sob escaping her lips. “It will not work.”

His heart broke again as he watched her cry. It wasn’t fair. Neeya was no witch woman. The damn superstitions of his people scarred her and made her an outsider, but he knew the truth. She was a simple, lonely girl who only wanted what everyone else wanted; food in her belly, a hut to call her own, and a handful of children. As long as she lived in her father’s hut she would never lack for the first, but until she married, the other two would be forever out of her reach.

Ramah watched her bare shoulders bob up and down and felt tears rising in his own eyes. She was right. His mother would not listen. He’d tried many times already, but she refused to allow him to marry a Chalika, as she was called. This time would be no different. His mother was as stubborn as the sand.

He clenched his fist, feeling the old familiar anger rise up inside him. His mother would see him married to a woman of her choosing, not his own. But he would not be denied. Not this time. “Then I will defy her,” he said.

A blast of thunder boomed overhead. Odd, there was not a single cloud in the sky. Ramah ignored it. There were more important things to deal with right now.

“You what?” Neeya’s eyes widened.

“I will marry you. With or without her blessing.”

“You can’t do that,” she replied. “The law-”

“Can’t I?” he asked. “I am Houlo, not my mother. My word is law. I will marry you and build us a hut on the far side of the village.” He reached down and grabbed her shoulders, gently pulling her to stand in front of him. “That is, if you will have me.”

More thunder. BOOOM! Ramah looked to the sky, but could see no sign of an approaching storm. Perhaps it is hidden by the trees, he thought.

“Will you have me as your husband, Neeya?” he asked.

Neeya stood for a moment, her expression uncertain. “This will anger many people.”

“I am not interested in sharing my hut with many people,” he replied. “Only with you. And our children, of course.”

“But the law-”

“The law be damned. It is time to change it.”

“You would do this for me?”

“I would do it a thousand times over. Marry me, Neeya. The time for hiding is done.”

She nodded and sank into his arms. “I will,” she replied. “Of course I will.”

“I love you,” he whispered. He kissed her softly on the forehead.

Neeya said something in reply, but the sound of her voice was drowned out by another burst of thunder. BOOM! BOOOOOM!

Ramah woke with a start, his arms encircled around his soft, round pillow. Small puddles of blood had leaked from his eyes to soak the fabric, and he used his hand to wipe away the thin red trails on his cheeks.

The gods-damned dream again, he realized. He shook his head, trying to clear away the memories. Bachiyr do not often dream, when the sun rises in the morning sky most of his people simply lay down and die for the day, but Ramah was different. His days were often plagued by visions of his past, and most of them revolved around Neeya, the woman for whom he’d given up everything.

A loud, booming knock signaled that someone was growing very impatient on the other side of his chamber door. At least I know where the thunder came from, Ramah thought. He had no need to ask who it was. Only one Bachiyr would disturb him so brazenly. Not even the Lost Ones would be so bold. “Enter, Headcouncil,” he called.

The door creaked open, and Headcouncil Herris stepped into the room, flanked by his personal Lost One. The thing stood rotting away next to Herris, dropping larvae and small spatters of flesh onto Ramah’s floor. The temperature of the room dropped as the thing carried its aura of cold into the room with it.

“Headcouncil,” Ramah said. “Must that thing be present for this?” He pointed at the Lost One. “I do not care to have it in my private chambers.”

Herris gestured to his servant. “Leave us,” he said. The Lost One bowed, then turned and left the room, taking its unnatural chill with it.

Once it was gone, Ramah relaxed. Like most Bachiyr, he detested the Lost Ones, even though the other councilors enjoyed having them around. Especially Headcouncil Herris. The Lost Ones acted as servants for the Council and other prominent Bachiyr, but they also served as a reminder of what could become of vampires who disobeyed the Council of Thirteen. As a member of the Council himself, Ramah was immune to their laws, but the decaying, worm-eaten flesh of the Lost Ones still put him on edge.

“Thank you Headcouncil,” Ramah said. “How may I assist you?”

“There is blood on your face,” Herris noted. “Are you well?”

Ramah reached up and wiped away the remaining blood, cursing silently that Herris had seen it.

“It’s nothing, Headcouncil,” he said. “A minor injury that I have already healed. I merely forgot to clean up.”

“I see.” Herris studied him. Ramah felt the elder vampire’s beetle eyes boring into him, searching. That Herris knew Ramah lied was beyond doubt, Herris always knew when his subjects lied, but damned if Ramah would allow him to see why.

“Is there something I can do for you, Headcouncil?” Ramah asked as he erected a mental barrier around his mind. Herris broke off his study and smiled. He could probably still rummage through Ramah’s thoughts at will-such was the power of the Headcouncil-but he could no longer do it discreetly.

“You dreamed of her again, didn’t you?” Herris asked.

Ramah’s shoulders fell, and he nodded. No use trying to hide anything from Herris. He should have known better. Herris always knew. “Our last day together,” he said. “The night before I killed my village.”

“The Father’s request,” Herris pointed out.

“And duly obeyed,” Ramah replied. “I do not regret it. But the dreams will not leave me alone.”

“A test?”

“Perhaps, but I see no purpose.” Ramah said. “Never have I faltered in my service to our race.”

“True enough,” Herris agreed. “The Father has his reasons, I’m certain. He does not share them with us.”

“Have you ever dreamed, Headcouncil?”

“Never,” Herris replied. Ramah caught the flicker of doubt across his elder’s face. It was there and gone in an instant, but Ramah noticed. As the primary executioner of the Council’s will, it was his job to notice small things. Interesting. What would Herris dream about? No matter. Herris’ dreams, or lack thereof, were none of his concern.

“You should see Lannis,” Herris said. “She might be able to help you rid yourself of the dreams.”

“With all respect, Headcouncil, is there a reason you have come to my personal chambers rather than wait for the next Council session?” Ramah hoped Herris would take the hint. He didn’t want the dreams to stop. They reminded him of who he was, and fueled his hatred of mankind. For every drop of blood Neeya shed in his dreams, he took a gallon from the world of men. It suited his purpose for them to continue.