Ahmed went back to skimming the Darkling History programs he had downloaded. He had seen those aimed at educating younger children and now found there were curricula and materials designed to educate teens and adults.

There was an encyclopedic collection of entries called Darkland, which detailed renown Darkling, art and literature by or about Darkling, Darkling-related events, and sites of importance to Darkling. The wording was objective and included subsections dedicated to informing professional reporters which terms were preferred and how they should be pronounced.

There was a series of animations, computer games, and multi-user role-play worlds aimed at coaching teens in making informed choices.

There was an educational video describing in clinical detail the pleasures and dangers of relationships with Vampyres. A separate yet similar-toned video explained intersexed genitalia, which could present in some Halfangels as well as Humans, and extrasexed genitalia, which occurred in some Halfangel populations though not typically in Humans. They were informative, to say the least. Ahmed had never considered the appearance of wings could indicate a need for additional care to stay safe.

The Story of the Sidhe was an interactive  illustrated text recording the history of this tribe from a pre-historical civilization, beginning with the birth of the first Halfangels, and continuing through the creation of the Wolfbreed by the angel Gabriel, founding of Halfangel tribes, the first union of Darkling who became the Sidhe, Wars with Nephillim and their Spawn, battles with Human tribes, Northward migrations, reclusion in the British Isles, a reemergence with the Union in the 21st century, and the recent Revitalisation in Paris.

The Story discussed the origin and meaning of words like Darkling, Faerie and Pixie. It named famous Sidhe and explained how the present Union of Darkland Nations was affected by the Sidhe.

A later portion of The Story told how a famous Sidhe named David Parasiel had been turned by a Vampyre and in turn had turned a Human woman when she was pregnant. When her baby had been born he was a new sort of being. Another famous Sidhe, Thierry Ravenstar, used the knowledge of Angels to engineer another birth using the seed of this first male. There was at present a small family of these Shi Vampires. The Sidhe consider these new living Vampyres to be part of their larger tribe.

Ahmed thought the sections about genetics and the Angel Gabriel might not go over well with religious conservatives in the nation, though he gathered there were scientists from politically liberal countries who agreed with this entirely.

The new, living vampires affiliated with the Sidhe interested him. It meant new forms of Darkling may always be created or discovered.

A knock came at Ahmed's door.

"Enter." Ahmed called, and then seeing Victoria move past the door, he said, "Come in Victoria."

Victoria closed the door quietly behind her. She was carrying one of her sketchbooks. "I just put the children to bed," she said, "with Majnun. I looked at those programs."

"Very good. What did you think?"

"I made some notes."

Ahmed smiled and gestured to the chair near him. "That is what I hoped for."

Victoria returned the media. "The one about Wolfbreed didn't seem to interest the children. The others we might let them play on their own, though I'm sure some will prove more entertaining to them than others."

"The intent was to be educational." Ahmed put the returned program away.

"If they are entertained, they play the educational game longer."

Ahmed laughed despite himself, then made an effort to focus.

"Victoria," he said, "in a little more than a day from now, I will be in a debate with two other candidates. The moderators are  sure to ask about the Darkling. I've got to know what I'm talking about, and I've got to mean what I say. Do you know that your friend Orchid is going to be there?"

"He told me."

"He, or his fellow Vampyres, are going to read our minds and decided who is telling the truth. If we all support the Darkling, or if none of us can, I fear for our political system."

"Is there anything I can do?"

Ahmed nodded. "I know that you care about the people, the Darkling especially, and education. I need your opinion. What should I say up there? I want to teach Human children Darkling history? I want bottled blood sold in public? I want stricter anti-discrimination laws? I want health care to cover rare diseases and Halfangels who are born sickly?"

"Human children that are born sick or disabled are cared for. In that respect, the Darkling only ask equal treatment."

"Yes," Ahmed agreed. "I just don't know how far to extend these accommodations sometimes."

"The education, the accessibility to blood, laws against hate crimes, and health care: those are all positive things to support."

"Yet, there are those-- Human or not --who want improvement of water treatment and roads. The other candidates will claim that they will not raise taxes—"

"The people must know there is more to the economy than tax rates. Do you even know these things cannot be afforded, or--"

"It's what they ask in follow-up, regardless."

Victoria shook her head, then smiled for Ahmed. "The Darkling we know have jobs. They pay taxes. So it's only fair they receive their share of services. Do not try to tell people what you think they want to hear. Tell them what you are willing to support. You couldn't well be re-elected if you were seen to make promises and not keep them."

Ahmed laughed. "I haven't been elected yet."

"You'll win, because you do care about the state, Ahmed."

"And yesterday you were screaming at me."

"I was wrong," Victoria said. "I thought I was right, but I didn't realize that you must have other pressures on you. All I wanted was for you to give just a little respect, that you showed me some way that I mattered to you. I love you. I don't want to go find another man. I want to stand by you."

Ahmed leaned closer to her, but he hesitated there. Victoria kissed him then, tenderly on his lips. Ahmed took her hands in his.

"I've got to work on this while it is all fresh in my mind," he confessed. "Will you stay and help me? There are further materials on Darkling education here."

"Of course," Victoria promised.

By dawn, they had some good notes prepared for the debate. Ahmed said it would be best if they got a few hours sleep. He lay down on his bed with Victoria.

-----------

Secret: I can't decide if Ahmed showed Victoria all the educational materials for older audiences.