It wasn't too long after the goat incident that I began feeling more normal and settled. I could think again. My senses were back and I knew where the angry soldier was.

They watched my terrifying display of hunger on that poor goat and my remorse. I knew that because of the camera. I was being monitored at all times. I knew that.

Dr Comet, Citron and Angry were having a meeting with Gem, the leader of her people. I was eavesdropping on their meeting but it wasn't on purpose.

"It's an act." The angry man stated. I learned later that his name was Peridot. They called him Peri most of the time. "I don't buy it." His arms were crossed. "I've killed a lot of his kind and none have acted like this!"

Citron smiled. "Exactly! He's different and maybe that's why they left him behind. He was late hatching and they left him. They could have taken him with them to hatch later but they didn't. Maybe they knew he was different."

Dr. Comet agreed. "Right! I agree with Citron."

"Of course!" Peridot growled.

"I agree because he's right, Peri. Come on. They're like us in that respect. Never leave a man behind. Never. Especially if they are alive! They've never..." Dr. Comet was interrupted.

"What if he's a trap? I mean come on! What if he's a spy and they can see everything that we say and do!" Peri glared at his team.

Gem sighed. "I don't think so, Peri. I believe that he was left because they thought he was different or...that he wouldn't survive at all. We didn't read any lifesigns when we got there."

"He's got no heartbeat, Ma'am. Well, it's very slow." Dr. Comet replied. "Or he can't connect with them. I believe that they mate with one another. Maybe...he doesn't have a mate among his people. That would.."

"Make him dead to them!" Citron smiled. "So, he's got no loyalty to them!"

"And what? He'll be loyal to us?" Peri glared. "I seriously doubt that and what happens when he finds his mate in another group? Huh? He'll betray us."

Dr. Comet was thinking. "Unless...they either have one or they don't. Maybe he doesn't have a mate not just in that group but among all of his people. It's in the notes that I've read. There have been studies of a sort. So..."

"A stranger and an outsider. They abandoned him to die alone." Citron sighed. "They don't live well alone."

"They die." Peri glared and cocked his gun. "I'll do it!" He started to leave the room.

Dr. Comet glared at him. "Peri! Stop. No. You're not going to kill him. We need him."

Peri glared. "I don't."

"We do. I have more tests to run and he's been more than cooperative. Give him a break." Dr. Comet stayed on the vampire's side.

"I get that vampires killed your people and I'm sorry but he didn't. You're not alone. Okay? He's innocent. He was stolen from his people, fed on and turned. We kidnapped him, brought him...here where we ran tests on him. He deserves some credit."

Citron agreed. "And he didn't kill Comet!"

Dr. Comet nodded with a smile. "And he didn't kill me!"

Peri rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Call me if something interesting happens. I have practice." He stormed off. He knew that he couldn't change their minds.

Gem sighed. "I guess this meeting is adjourned."

Citron and Comet nodded and left the room. Gem just sighed. What was she supposed to do with this vampire?

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(This little meeting after that meeting, I didn't learn until later in my journey but I am adding it here because this is where it happened. It's from Peri's perspective.)

Peri's POV:

I was in my private practice room where I liked to stay and workout alone. I never wanted to take my anger out on soldiers and my team so I worked out alone and practiced alone. Gem was the only person that would dare bug me while I was hitting my punching bag... and here she comes.

A small knock interrupted my practice. "You're going to come in so do so." I was upset. I needed to hit something if I couldn't hit the vampire.

Gem sighed as she entered. "Peridot..."

"Gem, I know what you're going to say..." I glared at her. We got along and I thought of her like my sister. We joked and argued and talked. She was my confident and I was hers when she needed someone to listen. We were close.

"Do you? Peridot, he's hurting." Gem sat in a chair that I kept in this room just for her.

I rolled my eyes and turned to face her. "Really? He isn't because he doesn't remember! I remember, Gem!"

Some flashback pictures flashed through my head. Smoke billowing from ruined buildings, bodies, the silence of a dead town... my family... my power was gone...I remembered how it felt as it rushed from my body... I refused to think about it again. I cleared my throat and pushed all my feelings down.

Gem watched me with a calculating stare. "Do you think that having a blank mind is better than remembering? Is that what you really believe? Don't you think that he's frightened and confused and upset? Just a little?"

I rolled my eyes again. "I don't really care what he feels, Gem."

Gem chuckled. "Sure. Under all that hate and anger, I know the real you, Peri. Did you forget that?"

"And you can read him that well?" I watched her now. I had to know what she saw. She had a true gift of seeing what was in the heart of people. She could see what they truly were capable of and who they truly were. Could she do that with the vampire also?

"He's different from the rest. I think even you know that, Peridot. He's scared but curious. He's already helping our Gen with tests and being very docile." Gem sighed. "Don't you think you two have a lot in common?"

I growled at her and tossed my gloves on the floor. "Fuck no! I am nothing like that... that thing!" I spat on the floor.

"I think he's just as angry." Gem didn't say more.

"You didn't answer my question. Can you read him?" I watched her for an answer. I wasn't sure what I was hoping for. Did I want him to be different or did I want a reason to kill him? Did I want him to betray us or save us? "What is his heart?"

Gem smirked at me. "You both have so much in common. Very stubborn, angry, confused and hopeful... he's got something else, Peridot."

I motioned for her to continue.

"He's not jaded. He feels protective and curious about us. I think with time, he could be friends. He's friendly and already considers our Gen as a friend. He's soft... gentle." Gem smiled. "Also, I think he could benefit from a couple hits of that bag. It would do both of you some good." She winked and walked out of the room.

I just growled at her and ended my practice. "She ruined my perfectly good practice time." I was angry. I was nothing like that... that... vampire! I will never allow that thing into my private space! No way in he...

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This is the end of Peri's POV (We'll leave him to his cursing for now.)