Free Prophecy of the Undead by Fiona McGier Page A

look around these days at what the popular culture is fixated on and I cringe with embarrassment and disgust. Black folks used to value intelligence. White and black people used to at least pretend to be educated when they weren’t and everyone aimed to better themselves by reading and discussing things of value...ideas like freedom and equality. Now all anyone wants to talk about is which celebrity has a baby-bump and who the daddy might be...or which celebrity clothing line or perfume is the next big thing.
    “No one cares whether or not our country is going to hell in a hand basket because we’ve lost the momentum which used to make us aim higher. The only time we look up is when we push others to accept the myths that our ancestors used to comfort themselves when their fear of dying got too big. No one wants to head for the stars to live on other planets. Instead they’re too busy surfing the net, looking for extreme porn. We have all of the knowledge of humanity available at the click of a mouse and we use it to access social networks so we can talk about each other.”
    Tears leaked out of Keisha’s eyes. She gratefully took the cocktail napkin from under his water glass that Yuri handed her. The tears were blood-red so she pushed the ball of tissue into her pocket when she was done and tried to regain her composure.
    Yuri regarded her silently for a time, and then he leaned over to say, “Small minds discuss other people. Average minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas.”
    Keisha’s eyes widened in surprise.
    “That’s from Eleanor Roosevelt, right?”
    Yuri nodded. “Yes. She was a very intelligent woman...way ahead of her time. These days she could have been so much more...accomplished so many more great things. She didn’t want eternity. She was content to leave her mark then move on.”
    “You knew her?”
    He nodded.
    She glared at him. “You’re not going to get all superior on me and expect me to believe that you’ve met every important historical person who lived during the time you’ve been alive, are you? I mean, that’s going to get really old, really quickly. I may not be over a hundred years old but I refuse to be patronized.”
    Yuri’s lips twitched with amusement.
    “Yes, I see that you aren’t the kind of woman who would take that lying down...or standing up...or even bent over my sofa. No my dear, I don’t intend to throw my considerable years of experience in your face. After all, if I am so great then I would have found the answers I seek a long time ago, right?”
    She nodded decisively. “That’s right, Mister. You need me, remember?”
    He leaned over even further to whisper into her ear, “I do indeed.” His fangs gently nipped her earlobe and his tongue shot out to lick the drops of blood.
    Keisha tried to get over the shock of that little act. It made every cell in her body vibrate with excitement. She crossed her legs protectively but that just compressed her clit between her thighs and made things worse. Yuri’s low chuckle made her turn to glare at him, aware that he knew what she felt. She tried to think up a witty, yet snarky, quip to toss at him when the captain made an announcement over the intercom.
    “Ladies and gentlemen. We are about to land in Tucson.”
    Yuri leaned over, patting her on the back of her hand.
    “I look forward to sparring again with you, when we have more time.”
    “Fine,” Keisha huffed. “As long as you don’t plan on winning every argument by appealing to my sexual appetite.”
    “Which is growing by the minute, I can assure you. No, you are not just the woman of my dreams during my every waking moment. You are also the formidable intelligence I have sought for many years. I won’t forget that for a moment, nor will I risk losing you for any reason.” He stopped, amused by the shocked look on Keisha’s face.
    “Growing every minute?”
    “Yes, my little newbie. Growing stronger in the blood enhances all kinds of