Acamar awoke to find himself in a dark space. Thankful for his good night vision he looked around and from half-discerned shapes in the darkness realised that he was in some sort of cellar. There were racks of wine stored there and Acamar realised he was in a house of some wealth. He had been restrained by ropes to an empty wine rack. Acamar realised this was not the work of a vampire hunter, for they knew of the vampire's strength and would never use such flimsy ropes to tie one with. Acamar easily freed himself.

Every instinct honed in the darkness was telling him to get away from the house and back underground, but curiosity won out. Acamar wanted to see who had captured him and see what they wanted. They might be amateur vampire hunters, but he felt he could not leave without knowing who they were. After years of tension and constant fear at last it felt like something was happening - even if it was transitory and even if it resulted in his own death it would at least be something other than constant oppression which awaited him.

Acamar explored the cellar, finding that it also contained old tools and papers. He equipped himself with an axe and awaited the arrival of his captors. They were not long in coming. Footsteps sounded on the floor above and a chink of light appeared at the door. A click, and a dim bulb lit up the room. Acamar was partly hidden behind a wall of bottles and so he saw them before he himself was seen.

Five people entered the cellar, talking in low whispers. They were young - late teens or early twenties, and seemed apprehensive. Three young men and two women, the quality of their clothing and well-fed appearance gave away their wealthy origins. They carried no weapons, no stake or crossbow and Acamar realised that they were not intent on his death, though he could think of no other reason a mortal should capture him. They started to whisper in an agitated fashion when they saw the broken bonds and Acamar decided the time was ripe to meet them.

'Are you looking for me?'

One of the girls gave a muffled scream and all the young people looked rather frightened as Acamar stepped from the shadows, axe in hand. He squared up to the boy who had led them, and swiftly gauged that they were no match for him, should he need to escape.

'Why did you imprison me?'

'We want to join you,' the leader said, in a scared tone.

'What?!' Acamar was astonished, but the five mortals were all nodding and agreeing with their leader.

'We want to live forever,' said a vapid young woman.

'We want to be more than human,' said another boy.

'We're different from other people - we're outcasts, just like you! We want to join you!'

'Then you are stupid,' Acamar said, flatly, 'We can live forever but most of us get killed by your kind young. We live in filth and squalor, we go hungry, we are always afraid, always! We are not romantic outcasts, living in the night, but hated monsters to be hunted by your people. I live among the wretched, the hungry, the insane - we only live together because we are in less danger that way. We are not "nice people", ready to welcome the effluent of human society, we tolerate because we are stronger together than apart. We fight and steal and kill just to survive and everywhere we go humans are ready with stakes for us. Go back to your wealthy families, go back to your comfortable homes and thank whatever gods you worship for them. You could neither want our life nor bear it if your wish was granted.'

They stood silent for a while, crestfallen, but then a tall brown-skinned girl walked up to Acamar.

'I know what we mortals have done to you, I know how hard your life is, I know the hatred that runs in waves from mortals when your kind is mentioned. I am resolute, I want to become a vampire, and I want to fight with you for your freedom. I know what I am asking for.' With that the girl bared her neck and indicated that Acamar should bite her. He was hungry, had always been hungry it seemed, and it was an almost unbearable temptation to bite the young girl. She would provide food for the rest and sate his need for blood...Acamar pushed her away.

'No! I don't understand why you would want such a cursed life but I am certainly not going to give it to you! You cannot free us, you cannot become our saviours, we do not want you! Its too late, we only seek to live day by day now. We don't have the strength to fight back, there are too many of your kind. If you want to help us, go petition your government, try to change their minds...'

'And do you think they would listen? Even living underground you must know of our government. It rules in the people's name but has not listened to them in many many years. We've heard people talking in the streets, we know we are privileged, and maybe, just maybe we could use that privilege somehow to save you. All the people need is a cause, a fight, a just conflict and they would rise up and join with you to make a better world!'

'No. Your "party of the people" started that way, the oppressed will always oppress if they are given the chance. You know nothing, your government plays on the fears of the people to make them docile and we cannot even get near enough to talk to them without someone bringing out a stake. It could not work. Your utopia is the same fantasy that utopias always have been - no-where places fit only for dreams. I won't let your idealism lead you into the life we have but do not want. Never attempt this again, do you hear? Our people are hungry, and you would feed many.'

'Wait!' cried the dark girl as Acamar turned to leave, 'We know you live underground, we'll just go there and ask to become vampires! We only captured you because we thought it might be easier this way, but if you won't turn us then we'll find another way.' The others nodded in agreement. Acamar was aghast, the sewers were dangerous and not all mortals who were taken there were fed on by vampires, and not all who were fed upon were turned. But the young humans were all expressing their determination and all that Acamar could say would not sway them. He decided to let them see what life in the underground was like in the hope that that would dissuade them. They cheered when he told them.

As they made their way onto the streets they told Acamar their names. The dark-skinned girl was Eva, and their leader was Jon. Peter and Ray were two red-haired brothers and Joanna was the plain girl. Acamar was anxious for their safety as they walked the streets, for he could not protect them all and the vampire hunters would kill them too in their frenzy should they be seen. Several times they had to hide behind buildings and in alleyways from mortals passing by.

Eventually they came to a sewer entrance, and followed Acamar inside. The stench was dreadful but the mortals said nothing as Acamar led them through dripping tunnels in which rats scurried. They reached one of the main halls and the mortals stopped dead at the sight of the poor, ragged vampires there. A great cheer arose from the huddled people when they saw so many mortals with Acamar. The young people saw the emaciation of the vampires, the dirt on their skin, the smell of stale sweat and excrement, the ragged clothing and looked around them sadly.

'Do you now understand?' Acamar turned to Eva.

'I still want this. I know my own mind. I was born to fight for freedom and I want to fight for your freedom, with you, as one of you,' she told him, fearlessly. He admired her courage but felt that they would all change their minds once they had time to reflect.

A muscled vampire joined them and clapped Acamar on the back.

'Well done, Hunter! We've not had so much food in a long while! Tell me, how did you get them all?'

'They seek to become vampires Aidan, they came here willingly. I hope to change their minds.'

'Change their minds? Are you mad? They're food, nothing more! You shouldn't feel sorry for idiotic mortals like these, they're just the spawn of those who kill us daily, and will grow to kill us in their turn. Better that they die now and feed us all than grow to kill us later. We will all eat well tonight thanks to your efforts!'

'P-please...' said Jon, 'we want to become vampires, will you...turn us?'

Aidan laughed, 'Oh no, I don't think so, human. If we turn you then we can't take so much blood from you, and we are hungry!'

All the vampires laughed and the mortals began to look frightened. Then Aidan caught sight of Eva.

'Well now, what have we here?' he said, 'I recognise that face... You're the daughter of Michael Green, the Chief Vampire Hunter, aren't you? Oho, you've brought us a rare prize here Acamar! We'll get some revenge on Green at long last. That bastard killed my mother, he killed my brother, he killed countless of our kind and enjoyed it! How about it, boys? We'll drain this one dry and then send them above her mangled corpse as a little present from us darksiders!'

The cheering went on and on, and Eva looked terrified, and suddenly much younger. Aidan cackled and started shouting, 'Kill the bitch, break her bones, she'll die, she'll die in all the agonies we can devise!'

'NO!' shouted Acamar, but no one seemed to hear.

TBC