My Blood To Give Read Online Free Page B

weeds.”
    Dara didn’t answer, and they continued on their way.
    She couldn’t get her mind off the lack of animal and plant life. None of the windows had flower pots in them. No ivy trailed over the doorways. Courtyards and squares graced the intersections of the streets, but no gardens, no parks, and no trees. People walked everywhere. No horses pulled carts or wagons through the streets. No one rode on anything.
    “Did you know,” Dara said, “some religions forbid people to live anywhere where there are no trees?”
    Andrei raised his eyebrows. “Is that so?”
    Dara nodded. “And did you know that the human brain can’t function correctly if a person doesn’t see a certain shade of green?”
    Andrei laughed. “What shade of green is that?”
    Dara spoke in a serious voice. “It’s the shade of green that matches the chlorophyll in plants. The human brain is designed to function best when it sees that green. Psychologists have done studies on people deprived of contact with green plants. They aren’t as productive, and they aren’t as happy. Their brains start to atrophy, and their hormonal system becomes unbalanced.”
    Andrei turned away. “I know what you’re saying. But as you can see, the people of Sanctuary are perfectly happy and productive. There’s nothing wrong with their brains.”
    “Maybe there is something wrong with them,” Dara muttered.
    “Like what?” he asked. “What do you think is wrong with them?”
    The words rushed out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Maybe what’s wrong with them is that they think being bitten and bled by vampires is a good thing. Maybe what’s wrong with them is that they think being slaves and servants and livestock is the best thing for them. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with them.”
    Andrei didn’t get angry like she thought he would. He glanced around in silence for a moment.
    “I can understand why you might think that. You just came here from the human world. You value independence. Naturally, you would think anyone who willingly gave it up was misled, or crazy. But it isn’t like that. We don’t force anyone to do anything.”
    “I never said you forced them,” she returned. “That’s just the problem. They don’t have to be forced. They do it of their own free will.”
    He shook his head. “You’re new to Sanctuary. Everyone has a period of adjustment they go through. But you’ll see. Look. We’re almost to the arena. Have a good look around while we’re there. See if anyone here has an ‘atrophied’ brain.”
    As he spoke, they joined a crowd of people moving toward an enormous building at the conjunction of three streets.
    People laughed and jostled each other in their haste to get through the doors. Children jumped around in all directions, but the adults made no attempt to restrain them. An electric charge of excitement rippled through the crowd.
    The excitement of it caught hold of Dara, too, and she forgot all about atrophied brains and slavery. A flush of happiness brightened her cheeks, and her breathing quickened. She smiled up at Andrei, and he smiled down at her.
    Whenever someone saw her holding hands with Andrei, and noticed the bite mark on her neck, they would give her a nod of respect, and stand aside. She couldn’t stop herself from swelling with pride to be escorted by Andrei. She never experienced any respect or honor like this back home.
    The crowd surged through the doors and spread out into an open arena with a vaulted ceiling and rising tiers of stands on all sides. Andrei climbed the stairs, and Dara hurried after him. “Where are we going?”
    He nodded toward the top of the arena. “The Royal Box is up there, but we’ll sit next to it where we can see and hear everything better.”
    They stopped on a platform at the top of the stands, and they took their seats on a wooden bench. Other people sat nearby, but no one sat next to them. When they spotted Andrei, they moved away and left a