Chapter 171

Before I could even think the thoughts, and before Alexis answered, Simione entered the room carrying the unconscious man in his arms.

"Is he okay?" Sam asked. She was the only human who dared to speak, and this was one of the reasons I had chosen her. She had not been abused by a cruel Master and then allowed to bloom again. She would have no memory of the pain that a strong vampire could inflict. Unfortunately I did, and I worried for my family.

Alexis responded to her question while choosing to ignore Paul's for the moment. "He is alive. He simply needs to figure out how to animate this body. He must learn to realize that he is in control."

The human twitched, and a moment later his eyes opened. I clutched my leather chair indicating that Simione should sit him in it, and he did. Ran still lay flopped back like a rag doll, though he did blink—a little too much.

"He is strong," Alexis said. "He will figure it out, I believe. Maybe most would not, but he will."

I trusted Simione