 Cyber_Blood By Jonathan H. Amsbary He plopped into his computer station because he knew it would be hours before he could sleep. Alcohol usually kept him awake and the cold and pain was adding to the effect. He'd get on-line and chat for a while, that would calm him down, and maybe he could get some sleep tonight. He sat quietly with his eyes closed as the machine hummed to life. He waited for the operating system to boot and then moused his way into his Internet connection and then the chat server. He typed the login and password commands and then waited for the Java script to run. All in all the whole process took about three minutes - it felt like three days. While he was waiting he wondered to himself who would be on tonight. He was pretty good at guessing. The chat rooms had a rhythm. Some people were only on in the morning or afternoon, daytimers, whose moods reflected the time of day; bright and chipper. Some came on only in the evening. They gave the feeling of being in a club or bar. Then there were the nighttimers. Between Midnight and about six or seven (depending on the time zone) the chat rooms were dominated by hard core chatters and insomniacs. The mood was dark and tempers flared easily. The chat rooms were not used exclusively by Americans, but they dominated. They were followed closely by Canadians, then Brits, then Aussies, then the non-English speakers (who often had better English spelling and grammar than the natives.) But the rooms followed the sun as Americans saw it. David often wondered if his Aussie friends thought everyone in America was depressed and mean because that's who was up chatting when they were on. He checked the friends list, and was happy to see his friend Mistress_Dove was on. He liked her a lot, and she liked him back. They often chatted about non-bdsm stuff. And he thought she was sexy as hell. She had told him the same, and she usually was up for a good cyber romp. He typed "/goto Mistress_Dove" and was instantly transported to the "Bondage Chateau". The scroll was flying by fast and furious and it hurt his eyes for a second. Sub_thrall Bows to all who are Worthy and waves to his friends. A standard greeting would get everyone's attention and announce him as a submissive to the room. A string of "welcomes, greetings and good evenings" rolled down the screen. His buddy Sub_flame was on, and he might entice her into some vanilla action if neither of them could get anything going with a Dom/me. Sub_thrall Makes his way to the subbie couch and huggles his delicious friend flame. Groping where he can. Sub_flame Giggles and gropes thrall - woo hoo Mistress_Dove Smiles as he sees the handsome thrall enter the room and play with his subblings. Good, she noticed him, and was not with anyone right now. "Mr. Scott, I need warp speed and I need it now." He chuckled to himself. Sub_thrall Bows to Mistress_Dove and wishes her a good evening. I hope you are well Ma'am. Though he had technically bowed to her when he entered the extra was a nice touch that let her know he was interested. Mistress_Dove Smiles to thrall and thanks him ~ I am well little one. It is nice of you to care. And you are well little one? Sub_thrall Could not be better (he lied) especially seeing you tonight. Mistress_Dove I couldn't sleep tonight. Felt a pull to get me on-line. Now I know why ~smiles~ Please come sit at my feet little one. Sub_flame WooHoos for thrall Sub_thrall Sticks his tongue out at flame then runs and Kneels at Mistress_Dove's feet, back straight and head held high, eyes downcast. Mistress_Dove Smiles at her little one and pulls him into her warm lap Sub_thrall Climbs into her lap and smiles with great pleasure. The conversation scrolled on, Dove had been in some discussion with a Domme friend of hers and went back to it. Though she tossed in many "tickles thrall", "cuddles thrall" or "lightly kisses thrall" lines to let him know she was really thinking of him. He responded in kind, occasionally waving to an entering friend, laughing at some antic of another sub or sending a more risqué message to Dove in private. Now that David had his lap, he relaxed and allowed himself to cheer up a bit. He paid more attention to the goings on in the room. There was a good crop of newcomers and tourists tonight. The newcomers were ok. They might make a stupid comment or do something awkward, but with a gentle word or two from a regular (usually in private) they would calm down and try to fit in. Only about one in twenty or so would ever come back, but new blood was important, and everyone knew it. The tourists, on the other hand, were idiots. They came in and made stupid comments, trying to get the regulars to argue and fight with them. One of the more wonderful features of chat was the ignore button. If one ignored someone or "clicked" him or her, then nothing that was said by that person would appear on your screen. If everyone did it, then it was kind of a virtual death. Occasionally a regular from other rooms or other service all together would come in, and was usually treated like a distant cousin at a family reunion might. The two main allied rooms consisted of people who were into fantasy role-playing. One focussed on the warrior/ barbarian types. The women who went there were often even more submissive that the ones in David's room. David did not like the way people from that room treated the women, but he was polite none the less when one of them wandered into the Château. David's group was more into the magic of fantasy. They often pretended to be wizards, dragons, vampires or werewolves. These were the Kindred and David liked them very much. It was for this reason he perked up when Vampire_Empress (A bold name to use among the Kindred indeed) came into the room. He had never seen her before, and typed his usual greeting when he was with another. Sub_thrall Bows his head to Vampire_Empress. Wishing her a good hunt and hoping her clan thrives. Vampire_Empress I'm sorry, Sub_thrall I do not know what you mean by clan, but my hunt has been a little frustrating, perhaps you would be kind enough to come here and discuss it with me. Jonathan Howard Amsbary is not a vampire nor does he claim to know any in real life. He has, however, met more than a few on the net. When he is not writing vampire books he spends his time teaching communication to undergraduates at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he is an Associate Professor. Though he has written more than a few academic works, cyber_blood is his first serious attempt at fiction. He hopes that it is not his last. He lives with his wife and son and somehow finds the time to write and visit with friends on the Internet. He plays at the guitar and the recorder, mostly when his family is out of the house, though his dogs are saving up for earplugs. You may reach Jonathan at: amsbary@uab.edu Dominant/submissive chat rooms and a lovely, but evil vampire lead submissive David down the road to terror. David doesn't make the connection between this new dominant woman and the hideous dreams he's having. Dreams that are slowly taking over his life, changing him, and molding him in preparation for his transformation... Jean works for the committee. He's been stalking a dangerous elusive vampire for five years. Could the centuries old vampire he seeks to destroy be the same woman frequenting the D/s chat room? He knows that she is close, watching, waiting and planning her next move. Can Jean stop her before she completes David's transformation? Mr. Amsbary provides us with a peek into the world of Dominance/submissiveness. Throw Vampires and werewolves into the mix and the combination turns lethal! Cyber Blood is an intriguing story that I had to force myself to put down at 2 a.m. |