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city and were unaware of the uprising. Gertie wondered how many others existed in Athens who weren’t already part of the growing army. These women cared only about getting by from day to day and shared no aspirations of freedom. They looked at Gertie with disdain. This was their turf, and they didn’t like the idea of sharing the food supply with another.
    Gertie hissed at them as she walked by, unwilling to take their brazen intimidation. She was as strong as they and had nothing to fear. They could kiss her you-know-what.
    But before she had gone more than a few steps past the women, a group of six college kids—three girls and three boys—rounded the corner. Gertie knew they were students from the university by their school-themed shirts and by their thoughts. They stunk of alcohol and cigarettes, but the sweet smell of their blood was overpowering. One of them had skinned her knees, so that explained it. Gertie glanced back at the three vampires and was nearly overwhelmed by their bloodlust—both in their eyes and in the thoughts they didn’t bother to guard.
    All three vampires stepped between Gertie and the group of students.
    “Elate mazi moy,” the tallest and most beautiful of the three said eagerly. “Can I help you?”
    “No, thank you,” one of the boys replied with a red face. He thought he was being propositioned by a hooker.
    “But your friend is bleeding,” the tall vampire insisted.
    “I’m fine,” the girl said casually but then, locking eyes with the tall vampire, added, “Unless you can help me.”
    “We can help you.” The oldest of the three vampires stepped forward, mesmerizing one of the boys. “We have an elixir.”
    “An elixir?” the boy repeated. He took a step toward the woman.
    The first of the college boys to have spoken said, “Guys, she’s fine.”
    The third vampire moved directly in front of that boy and said, “But what of your headache?” She locked eyes with him. “We can help you with that, too.”
    “Okay,” the stupefied boy said.
    An old man shouted a warning from the center of the square. “Don’t listen to them! Come here!”
    “What we have is much stronger than alcohol,” the tallest said, maintaining her lock on two of the boys.
    Gertie was impressed by the way the three were able to manipulate all six into following them around the corner and into an alleyway. Gertie followed, too, reminding the others telepathically that the humans must be willing.
    Stay out of this , the tallest said to Gertie.
    Under the spell of the vampires, the six college students lined up side by side with their backs against a building in the shadows where even the moonlight did not reach. The three vampires caressed their cheeks and smoothed their hair and told the students they were about to receive unimaginable power. They were also told that they should return here, night after night, if they wished to continue to receive this magnificent gift.
    Then the vampires sank their teeth into the necks and wrists of their victims. Gertie licked her lips. The college students fell back against the wall and gazed into the night sky with the illusion of drinking a purple liquid from crystal goblets. The vampire virus first paralyzed them and then made them dizzy with pleasure. In a few moments, the three vampires abandoned their victims after having taken a pint, or more, from each of them. They said nothing to Gertie as they left.
    After a few moments of disorientation, smiles unanimously spread across the faces of the students. They held hands and danced, sang some kind of European rap song, and then ran around the alley like children high on sugar. All six students believed they were hallucinating when one of them began to hover a few feet from the ground.
    “What the?” her friend below squealed. “How are you doing that?”
    “I dunno,” the boy said. “I just felt like I was flying, from the elixir, you know. Then suddenly….” He dropped off and laughed as he