Last minute touches by various contractors were occurring. The distant sounds of tools bounced around the empty quad. She saw a few adults meandering ...to their destinations. Cynically, Lauren knew within weeks the white concrete would be scuffed and grey once the students started using the campus. Lauren swiveled around and oriented to the campus looking for the room she would meet her co-workers. As she came in from the bike racks, there were some undeterminable classrooms on her right, she. ’ Mrs. Holt said not turning. ‘Yeah ma?’ he replied stepping away from me. Suddenly, I had the plague. ‘Could you take this plate of pancakes out to the table?’ she asked pointing behind her to a steaming pile of ‘cakes. ‘Sure.’ He said taking them. ‘And Pete.’ He turned over his shoulder carefully not making eye contact with me. ‘Why don’t you have a few before you leave.’ She finished. ‘Right.’ He said stuffing two into his mouth and heading through the screen door that lead to the back. I came in for some more praise.On another of Lily's brief lap visits - she tried to grab a few moments between my swapping between the other girls - Lily asked, "Julia say you no phone?" Yeah, I lost it a couple of days ago." I buy you new phone in Hong Kong." No need, thanks Lily. I need one soon. I'll buy it Monday."Lily insisted, "I buy you Monday." Huh? I thought you said Hong Kong." Yes. I go Hong Kong tomorrow. Back school Tuesday. Give you phone Tuesday." You're going all the way to Hong. What she also possesses is a desire to be dominated. That has come from her human upbringing; some weakness perhaps in the humans who raised her." But a weakness nonetheless." Yes and one I shall remedy before she takes my throne." But why, Mother? Why her and not me?" Because while you are admittedly stronger than Cassandra, you are also reckless. We vampires may individually be stronger than humans but collectively they could still overwhelm our relatively small numbers, wipe us out if they.