Free Only Human by Maria Bradley Page A

to change you into someone hard. That is not you.’
    ‘ No, it wasn’t but look where that got me? I have to change if I want to survive Uncle, and I want to survive. Yes I do, if only to wreak havoc on the Vampires that have hurt me and the people I love, for simply protecting me. I want them to pay.’
    ‘ You have a lot to learn.’
    ‘ Yes I do Uncle, and I want you to teach me, teach me how to kill the Elders and all the other Vampires that have enslaved the Humans. It is disgusting what they have done to us! Sick and barbaric!’
    ‘ I am Vampire, will you kill me? Your mother and father?  Zak? Your rage is blinding you child. If you seek revenge, then you must dig two graves, for Aecia will die as well as her victim. I will not help you to destroy yourself. I didn’t help Garok to rescue you for that.’
    Garok ’s name being brought into the conversation is doing nothing to help the simmering volcano that is my emotional state at the moment.
    ‘ Garok is a snivelling, lying barbarian and I hate him!’
    ‘ You would still be at the Clone farm if it wasn’t for him! He came to me, not the other way around. His guardian is one of my colleagues, and part of our rebellion, of which you know nothing about as yet; he overheard my name, he could have been wrong, but he risked his life and asked for my help none-the-less. We hired a truck and broke in during daylight hours to rescue you, and as many as we could fit in the truck.’
    ‘ But he tricked me Uncle, he gave me to them!’
    ‘ He hasn’t told you? They had his sister; they threatened to torture her if he didn’t help to capture the children suspected of being human. He was forced to work for them.’
    ‘ Is that how you received the burns on your face? You were out in the daylight?’
    ‘ Yes, but don’t sidetrack from the issue of Garok! He is your friend. He is lost and alone, and carries so much guilt for his betrayal of you. He is also in mourning now for the loss of both his guardians and his sister!’
    ‘ They are dead?’
    ‘ Yes, they were Vampires and they were burned yesterday at sunrise; an example for all who dare to antagonize the Elders.’
    My uncle is looking at me with a mixture of fear, love and disappointment on his face. He wants the old Aecia back. She is gone forever, but he is right, I want to keep some of the goodness that was there. I don’t want to hate, but I’m just so confused and enraged by everything.
    The Clones have come over, and are sitting as close to my uncle as possible. They adore him, and it is heartwarming to see. Will my heart ever be warm again? I wonder, as I look at them. The one called Number One, (Anne and I plan to teach them their new names this evening), has come to sit next to me, and has linked my arm. She has crossed her legs to mirror how I am sitting. No hatred in her, just gratitude and love. Maybe I could learn something from her, and all the other Clones. I think Amica that I am going to have to try.
    Uncle has left me some writing paper and some pens. Not that I need it, I talk to you, with or without it, but I think it is important to document what is happening to all of us during this time. The world is changing again, and I should be honored to be a part of it. I am, but I am also frightened, and uncertain of the future.
    Blast, I didn ’t even ask Uncle where he is hiding out. He must be a wanted man, and what was he saying about a rebellion ?
    Wow! Number One has picked up a pen and a piece of paper. She is holding it wrong, I’ll just show her the right way. This is immense! She is drawing, trying to copy some of my writing. What if we can teach these Clones to write? Of course we can, we can teach them our language, to read and do maths. They copy everything we do already; they are children, ready to absorb everything we can teach them. This is how it starts! Where’s Anne? We’ve got a lot of work to do!!
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    I have had the most fulfilling and purposeful day in my