My promise to Jamie to try not to deliberately antagonize him was still in effect, because I was trying. I was just exceptionally bad at it. I could not help but be horribly amused at his reaction to a mention of my dungeon.

But, in the interest of trying not to frustrate him, I quickly added, "I'm not leading you to your death right now, or even to suffering, I promise. Unless of course, you find talking to prisoners to be torturous, in which case I have an unpleasant task for you."

My words seemed to mollify him. He started walking in the direction we had been going, and I joined him and continued talking. "All the other humans who participated in that little escape attempt of yours are still locked up down here. At first, I was afraid that I would do something regrettable because I was rather angry about the whole almost killing one of my humans in a fire along with part of my coffee stash—which is not that cheap or easy to get thanks to a certain mismanaged council—and then I simply was distracted by the return of a certain human with whom I am rather enamoured."

I met his eyes and saw his earlier displeasure had disappeared. "And now, of course, everything is pure chaos, and delightful as that is, I don't have time to give these four the attention they deserve."

"I'm not helping you torture them."

I rolled my eyes at him and made sure he saw. "If I had been planning to torture them I would already have done it. I thought you were starting to figure me out by now." I pretended to be offended.

"You're right," he said.

"Well, it's not that I wouldn't torture humans if need be, but most humans are no challenge at all. I prefer a challenge. It's probably one of the reasons I can't resist you."

"Oh?" His response was nonchalant, but I detected some interest under the terseness.

"Indeed. You're quite a rarity. Even my most brave or willing humans were quite terrified of me in the beginning, but you started with almost no fear and I can't detect any at all now. I love that about you."

As if they were meaningless, I threw the words out and turned back to business. "Regardless, what I want is for you to speak with your fellow escapees and explain to them how things are. You're permitted to tell them anything general to get them on our side, except classified matters that you've learned of while assisting Conner. And of course, you should keep what you've learned of my weaknesses to yourself."

I couldn't resist casting another suggestive look in his direction. A part of me wished to drag him off into some corner and resume where we had left off the previous night, but I was a good little vampire and kept to my business at hand. Leif would be so proud.

"Yeah," he agreed.

"So, you'll help?"

"Help you convince humans to work against the bloodsucking council? Yes, I'll do that."

"Good, they do have quite a lot of promise considering the fact they dared to act against me. Turned to the cause, such spirit could come in very handy in the future. While Travis is not quite your calibre, he's got the fire of rebellion in his eyes, and Barb actually dared to light my home on fire. As much as I was furious, if I had managed them properly I might have avoided the whole mess, but I was so fixated on you... Well, there's no use crying over spilled blood."

"It's 'crying over spilled milk'. My mother used to say that." I was surprised that such an archaic saying had somehow survived, but I had heard accounts that a few humans had managed to continue farming against all odds in far off places, so perhaps it was still relevant.

I blinked innocently. "Still, that's such a silly saying. Why would anyone cry over milk? I understand it's valuable nutrition for humans, but I just can't imagine anyone crying over it. Blood, on the other hand, is worth crying over, so telling people not to because it can't be undone makes much more sense."

We rounded a corner, forcing me to stop my slaughtering of an ancient phrase. "Wait here for a moment while I speak with them first, and I've got a bit of compulsion to undo on Evan."

I strode forward the last steps alone, leaving Jamie where he could likely still hear what I was saying, but my prisoners would not be able to see him. I watched their faces as they looked towards me and I enjoyed one of the last bits of horror and rage I would likely see on these particular humans. I had seen many expressions transform to confusion and tentative hope over my years.

Barb was near enough to hear, but I could not yet see her nor could she see me, as she was in one of the cells separated from these male prisoners by a stone wall.

"Mistress," said one of the two guards who were stationed here this morning, drawing my attention to them. I felt sorry for them, since they missed watching me explain everything which was undoubtedly spectacular, even though they were already in on the plot.

"You can go take a break, I wish to speak to my prisoners alone. I've neglected them far too long."

Mark flinched at my words and Evan whimpered, still under the influence of my cruel compulsion. I rather regretted using it on him now since I wasn't going to get a chance to punish the others with equal severity, and he was clearly the least culpable.

My guards left me with respectful nods, and Travis scowled, bringing fond memories of Jamie's original fury towards me. Well, no matter.

I went to the cell that held Evan and peered through the bars. "Come to the edge of the cage, human."

His face went pale.

"It will be much worse if I have to call back the guards to drag you out."

More pathetic whimpers escaped from him as he complied. I almost felt bad as I reached through the bars and pulled him securely against them. He was a bit taller than me, so I pulled his head down against the thick metal. He tried to struggle, but my strength was far greater than his own. Mark protested behind me, but I ignored his voice and focused on the human I held.

I whispered the song of my power. "Evan, it's time for you to forget my previous orders, and forget all the torment you imagined since then. None of it was real. I want your mind to be clear and your own so that you can see the truth of the situation."

I released him and stepped back. The change was subtle, but instantaneous. I doubted the other humans could tell, but his shaking slowed slightly and his heart and breathing began to even, just a touch.

"The four of you committed a rather grievous error when you crossed me. I am extremely angry about the damage you caused to my property, and most especially one of my humans. Which one of you knocked out a human female in the kitchen and left her to burn? Confess, and I will spare the others. Don't, and I'll compel the truth from you regardless."

I stalked down past the wall separating the cells and eyed Barb. "Was it you?"

The young female was crouched in the corner as far as she could possibly get away from me. "No."

"But you did light the fire? Don't lie or you'll regret it."

She sniffled. "Yes."

I left her alone and made my way back to the males. Travis challenged me with his gaze and in contrast Mark avoided my gaze. "Which of you two did it?" I stopped at Travis this time. "Was it you?"

"Screw off, leech."

"That's not an answer. Shall I flay it from you?" I asked threateningly. Humans never called my bluffs in the beginning, and Travis' face paled slightly under his rebellion.

"I did it," Mark said. He sounded nervous, but I liked that he was going to take responsibility.

I abandoned Travis and made my way over to Mark's cell. "Oh?"

"She almost caught us and I panicked."

"You've got no loyalty to your fellow humans, Mark?"

He did not meet my eyes. "What do you care?"

"Perhaps I do, perhaps I don't, but how are you humans to survive if you turn on one another?" I tutted as if scolding a child.

"It wasn't like that, there was no time. I didn't want to kill her!"

It sounded like there was real remorse in his voice, so I let the matter go. Once this human was broken of his rebellion against me, perhaps I could set him in the kitchen under Madeline's direction and let her work him until he was well and truly punished.

I cast a predatory smile that made the two most rebellious ones falter, and then I simply walked back to Jamie.

Before he knew what I was planning, I walked up to him, twined my arms around his neck and kissed him. It took a second before he returned it and I smiled against his mouth before breaking it gently. I met his eyes. "See what you can do to reason with your fellow escapees, and come let me know how it went when you're done, please."

I kissed him once more and then left him to his task.

As I walked away from him, I could feel his eyes burning into me and I smiled.