“To what do I owe your change of mind, Professor? Not my threat, I hope.” The Professor’s morning escort had brought him to what appeared to be the Mistress’ personal office. The estate house had been built along early Twentieth Century concepts of appropriately impressive spaces for the very wealthy. Large open spaces, high and arched ceilings. Her personal office was larger than many corporate boardrooms.
“I don't really know, myself. I just felt...different about it this morning.”
“I would have liked to boil you in oil, but in truth I wouldn't have punished you so harshly for simply needing your own way and not mine. We suffer our own demons. You understand?”
“I do, though last night I wouldn't have wanted to take the chance you weren't serious.”
“Shall we go tell your new staff? Your refusal was hard on them. Beatrice escaped her confinement again during the night but she was found wandering the grounds before sunrise. She’s not usually found so easily.”
“I think I understand and I'm sorry my insistence on dying affected Beatrice so badly. I didn't know.”
“I see now that I should have explained the entire situation beforehand. At the time we thought if you met them first, their stories would have a greater impact upon your decision.”
“Hindsight, of course.”
“Your presence here will be a benefit to me, personally. But if you direct them in research projects, if you can take their eyes off their own problems, I can take mine off of theirs. They'll be doing something I, and perhaps the outside world, will value. Purpose, Professor. You lost your own sense of purpose, so you know how empty life can become without any.”
“Intensely.”
“For so much of history, my kind had only one purpose, to survive. But humans have become too numerous, too powerful…so for a long time we’ve remained hidden. But that’s a terrible way to live. The younger ones especially seem different, they need more and I'm struggling to find a way to give it to them. Perhaps with your help, we can begin to explore new possibilities. The world seems to be changing. People question old prejudices and are turning from blind hatred of everything different. Vampires are even commonly portrayed sympathetically… in fiction. So we are debating whether the time is nearing for us to step from the shadows. We've been misunderstood and feared long enough. We want, we need, a place in the world.”
“It's true enough that people are increasingly reexamining their pasts and trying to make more equitable futures but, surely you will pardon me mentioning, vampires have long been killing mortals for food. Can that be overlooked?”
“Humans have their own sins, do they not? Centuries of bloody hands. Often with less rationalization than ours. And these days, they take a more unflinching view of the good and bad of history. We won't flinch from the truth, either. We won't ask forgiveness for what we’ve done; neither will we seek compensation for the genocidal warfare and hatred against us. All we wish is to set mutual wrongs aside. Make a clean start. An opportunity to find some acceptance by the so-called normal world.”
“Commendable. People tire of demands that they be responsible for what ancient ancestors may have done but they themselves don't condone.”
“As with mortal humans, younger generations are the key. We must learn where and how to find new roles. We need mentors to help us make our new future. But for now, I shall be satisfied if I can save just three abused and deformed creatures.”
<<< >>>
The first ‘official’ meeting with his staff had ended and they were leaving the Mistress’ office to see the office space they'd set up for him and begin a checklist of the workstations and other equipment desired. The Mistress held Adelaide back. “Just a moment before you go.”
“Yes, Ma'am?”
She regarded the girl for while, waiting unsuccessfully to see if any guilt might be revealed. “I suspect our Professor's resolution was tampered with during the night. Would you perhaps know anything about it?”
"I..."
“No. On second thought, don't answer that. One of you appears to have exceeded the powers I thought you capable of. If I knew which one, I'd have to punish her for the interference, but at the moment I'm too proud of how she reached beyond her ‘limits.’ Go catch up with the others, tell them what I just said, but it's important you all understand... I do not want his will to be tampered with any further.”
“I… I will inform the others.”
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