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oxes in her right hand； pressed to Seymour's neck。 She stands behind him； using him as a shield。 She is no longer drunk。 When she speaks； her voice resonates with power and authority。
〃Throw down the matrix or I will kill your friend；〃 she says。 〃Do so now。〃
The matrix will take me several minutes to master and is of no use to me right then so I throw it down。 Heidi takes a step closer； bringing Seymour with her。 It is clear； from her body language； that she is stronger than my vampiric friend。 The big question is； am I stronger and quicker than she is？ Seymour stands relatively still； knowing the danger is real。 Heidi's expression is harder to decipher。 There is an emptiness to it； an almost total lack of humanity。 I wonder at the transformation in her； and realize that Seymour and I have been set up。 Dan fidgets on my left； anxious to be gone。 His left ear continues to bleed freely。 He speaks to Heidi。
〃I have done everything you asked；〃 he says。
She nods。 〃You may leave。〃
Dan turns toward the door we entered。
〃Wait；〃 I say in a simple yet powerful tone。
Dan pauses in midstride and glances over at me； sweating； bleeding； shaking。 But my attention is on Heidi； or on the creature inside her。 Right then she reminds me of James Seter； Ory of ancient Egypt； the Setian that possessed Dr。 Seter's adopted son。 Yet there is something different about her as well。
〃I don't want Dan to leave；〃 I add softly； planting the idea deep inside Dan's mind； so he has no choice but to stay。 But I am not the only one in the room with subtle powers。
〃Leave now；〃 Heidi tells Dan。
His paralysis breaks。 He takes another step toward the door。
I reach out and grab him； and now Dan is my shield。 My fingers are around his neck and I push him toward Heidi and Seymour。
〃Release Seymour or I will kill him；〃 I say。
In response Heidi levels her matrix in our direction and pushes a button on the side of the black box。 There is a flash of red light； and I let go of Dan and dive to the side； behind a tower of drawers。 The weird light hits Dan and he is vaporized。 Just like that； on a gust of burning air； he vanishes on the tail of a piercing scream。
Wow； I think。 Heidi has a ray gun。
In a flash； I move through the building； using the equipment and machinery as camouflage。 Heidi seems able to follow my movements； but not well。 I estimate her powers to be equal to mine before Yaksha； the child； and Kalika restyled my nervous system。 Yet her psychic control must be greater。 In the bar she knew who I was； but I knew nothing about her。
I end up in a dark corner； up high； behind a bunch of boxes。 For the moment； Heidi seems to have lost me。 But I know if I speak to her； she will find me。 Yet I am capable of projecting my voice； making it bounce off inanimate objects。 Perhaps I can fool her yet。 I do want to talk to her。 She continues to keep Seymour close。
Heidi finally stops searching for me。
〃We do not wish to destroy you；〃 she calls out。
〃Could have fooled me；〃 I reply。
〃We wish to meet with you； make you an offer；〃 she says。 〃e out where we can speak。 You know this to be true。 We could have killed you in the bar if your death was all we wished。〃
〃I will e out only after you have explained who you are；〃 I say。 〃And don't threaten Seymour。 He is all you have to bargain with； and I think we both know it。〃
〃We are of an ancient tradition；〃 she says。 〃Our line is mingled with yours； and with that of others。 We hold all powers。 This world moves toward a period of transition。 The harvest must be increased。 We are here as caretakers； as well as masters。 If you join us in our efforts； your reward will be great。〃
〃Could you be a little more specific？〃 I say。
〃No。 You agree to join us or not。 The choice is simple。〃
〃And if I refuse？〃
〃You will be destroyed。 You are fast and strong； but you cannot survive against our weapons。〃
〃But I must have something you don't have；〃 I say。 〃Or else you would not be interested in my assistance。 What is this thing？〃
〃That is not to be discussed at this time。〃
〃But I want to discuss it。〃
Seymour cries out in pain。
〃This one is dear to you；〃 Heidi says。 〃And you are wrong。 We have more to bargain with than his physical shell。 At the moment I am twisting off his arm。 If you do not e out of hiding； he will be destroyed。〃
I hear no bluff in her voice。
〃Very well；〃 I say。 〃But if I show myself； you must give me your word that neither Seymour or myself will be destroyed。〃
〃I give you my word；〃 she says flatly。
I wish I still had the matrix with me； even if I don't know how to use it。 But it is still in her sight lines： I cannot get to it。 All I have is my knife。 Just before I step into the light； I position it on a shelf near the circular area where Heidi holds Seymour captive。 I point the tip of the blade toward them； then I appear around a tower of shelves。 Heidi is not surprised。 She continues to press the matrix into Seymour's neck。
〃Release him now；〃 I say。
〃Not yet；〃 she says。 〃Not until you join us。〃
〃Don't be foolish；〃 I say。 〃I cannot join a group I know nothing about。 Where are your people from？〃
〃Here； and elsewhere。〃
〃Are you from another world？〃
〃Yes and no。〃
〃Are you human？〃
〃Partly。〃
〃How many are in your group？〃
〃The number cannot be measured by human or vampire standards。〃
〃So you know I am a vampire。 Who told you？〃
〃You did。〃
〃No。 When？〃
〃Long ago。〃 Heidi shakes Seymour and I hear the bones in his spine crack。 〃Enough of these questions。 You join us now or you will be destroyed。〃
〃What do I have to do to join you？〃 I ask。
〃You must swear an oath； and offer us a large portion of your blood。〃
〃What do I get in return？〃
〃I have told you。 Power。〃
〃Power to do what？〃
She sharpens her tone。 〃Enough！ What is your decision？〃
Since she has a weapon at my friend's throat； I feel I have no choice。 〃I will join you；〃 I say。 〃On the condition you release Seymour。〃
〃Agreed。〃 She pushes Seymour forward so that he stands midway between us。
〃Seymour；〃 I say quickly。 〃Leave this place。〃
He has been hurt and frightened； but he is no coward。
〃Will you be all right？〃 he asks。 He does not want to leave。
〃Yes；〃 I say firmly。 〃You cannot help me by remaining。 Leave。〃
He turns toward the door。
〃No；〃 Heidi says。 Seymour stops…there is strength in her tone。 〃He is not to leave。 He is to be your sacrifice。〃
〃We have an agreement；〃 I say bitterly。 〃He is to be let go。〃
〃No；〃 Heidi repeats； and there is cold evil in her voice。 〃I agreed only to release him。 I have done so。 But to join us you must sacrifice him。 It is part of your initiation。〃
My tone is scornful。 〃Is this the way of your people？ You splice words so thinly they bee lies。〃
Heidi points the matrix at Seymour's back。 〃Your choice remains the same。 You have five seconds to make it。〃
I imagine she is good at keeping time。 Seymour's face is ashen。 He believes； either way； that he is a goner。 But I have not lived five thousand years to be so easily tricked。 Clearly this c