Free Tomorrow's Dead: The Julia Poe Vampire Chronicles by Celis T. Rono

Surprisingly
     over 50 applicants came forward.  Maclemar welcomed candidates interested in working
     with children.  Many women who’d been impregnated while drugged and had their babies
     taken away volunteered as nurses and child care providers.  With the eager help of
     human and vampire volunteers, Maclemar had more time on his hands for his core responsibilities.
    Willing vamps and stronger ex-cattle who showed promise were taken in by Michelle’s
     team for physical training to become Downtown security.  For the older folks who still
     had lucid minds, Sainvire invited their help in planning political strategies and
     teaching the older children games with a special emphasis on chess.
    Poe, on her part, began teaching Jeet Kune Do and Muay Thai to those interested in
     muscle development and bone strengthening therapy.  By the third week her class had
     become so popular that she moved it outdoors to Pershing Square with almost 100 humans
     and a spattering of day vamps attending. 
    For those unable to leave their beds, Poe arranged for Sainvire’s vampires to read
     to them and help them with bathing.  She also made delivering food to the elderly
     much easier by putting Meals on Wheels into operation.  Habib and his large staff
     packed three meals of fresh food for the debilitated.  She preferred ODs for this
     job so they could see their lasting damage and perhaps volunteer to serve their former
     victims on an ongoing basis.
    Poe didn’t set out to be a reformer.  She planned activities and programs because
     she thought the community would be stronger if everyone worked together.  She had
     the knack for convincing people and vampires to try something they normally would
     never do.  “If you don’t like it, you can kick me.  I won’t kick you back,” she’d
     say.  Her ability to remember every face and name like a gamemaster served her well. 
     In all, she’d met over 600 Downtown residents by her fifth week in the city.
    If she weren’t a household name before, Julia Poe was now unforgettable in her superstar
     achievements.  She was well regarded because of her sincerity and ability to listen. 
     Her martial arts classes drew a hundred people, but her audience was double that. 
     She taught with strong will, and it showed with every kick and punch which lessened
     the fears of ex-victims.
    In short, Julia Poe became an icon whether she wanted the tag or not.
     

CHAPTER 5
     
     
    T HE LAST T HURSDAY OF the month was an important community event held at the Biltmore’s grand ballroom. 
     Poe was expected to give the recommendations she had promised, and her nerves were
     jangled.  She never thought of herself as a public speaker, and she could never forget
     she had once stuttered.  She spent most of the morning trying to mentally sort her
     plans.  Percy looped her arm around Poe’s elbow while they walked to the park for
     martial arts lessons.  The two had been inseparable.  Penny and Chops trailed behind
     them, both creatures swaying their behinds like a couple of drunken women.
    Percy had become like a little sister to Poe.  She’d never loved anyone like she did
     Percy in the five weeks she’d been in the city.  Not even Piper’s cute baby antics
     could steal her heart away from the little girl with sorrowful eyes.  She was resolved
     to ask the girl to live with her on Catalina.  The prospect of having a friend in
     the isolated island heartened her.
    The students were already situated in their rows of 12 while the observers sat on
     benches and fences.  She knew she’d never get used to the spectacle of teaching. 
     She motioned for the Judo Club as they used to call themselves in Gilroy and approved
     of their black outfits and red waist sashes to differentiate themselves from the crowd. 
     Five older men, ex-boxers, coaches, and athletes participated from the club, helping
     Poe with teaching basic defense stances to the near-impossible number of