“How do you feel, Emma?” Mistress V was asking one of her favorites.  But there was no hint of favoritism or bias, only the unmistakable note of concern.<br/><br/>Emma Place sighed heavily, then drew a long, slow breath, as though the effort of making the vampire’s corpse disappear had somehow drained her.  “Okay, I guess,” she allowed, at length.  “I can’t believe I did it,” she added for good measure.<br/><br/>“Sit down.  Rest,” Virginia said to the girl as she turned to rap on the door.  Hale, who had been ‘standing guard’ outside the door (this merely meant that he entirely blocked the sliding door with his massive frame – and most of the narrow passageway, too), ducked into the train cabin and Virginia could not help but notice that his bright, hazel eyes were locked on the young girl.  “Do you need any water, dear?” she asked, turning her astute attention back to Emma.<br/><br/>“No, no, I’m fine, Mistress, really,” Emma said.  “I’m just surprised that I did it,” she said, staring at the floor.  She had even made the blood stains disappear.  This little feat made her smile.  That irrepressible smile was infectious and Hale was soon smiling, despite himself.<br/><br/>“It’s for a good cause, Emma,” Virginia said.  How many times had she used those words to justify far less savory acts?  Hale would surely know where this conversation was going.  Sure enough, Virginia glanced over to see that the smile had evaporated from his dark face, making him seem ever darker.<br/><br/>“Are you willing to do this again, should I ask it of you?” she had to ignore Hale and focus on the 17-year-old girl, now.  She could not read minds, but two and a half centuries had taught her how to spot a lie or even a slight deception on another’s face.<br/><br/>“Oh yes,” Emma said instantly, surprising Hale even more than Virginia.  “I can’t wait to try that out on one of these monsters while he’s still kicking and screaming,” she added before either Hale or Virginia could close their mouths from their slack-jawed surprise.<br/><br/>“Oh no,” said Virginia and Hale at exactly the same moment.  Hale stared at Virginia, now.  He was immensely grateful that the Mistress shared his opinion and it showed in his eyes.  He would not allow Emma to go off half cocked, and niether, it seemed would Virginia.<br/><br/>“We’ll talk about it later,” Virginia said, her tone effectively ending any chance of further debate.  Even Emma, ever oblivious to the nuances of conversation, took the hint.  “Let’s meet the others,” Virginia said.<br/>