Jessica stays, for now

Jessica runs back to her room, tears welling in her eyes, and throws herself on the bed. She cries softly into her pillow. I'm not like them, she tells herself, but knows that she is more like them than she can admit.

After about twenty minutes, Jessica hears a knock on her door. Elizabeth peeks her head in. "Jessica, dear, we need to talk." Elizabeth strides into the room, behind her is a human thrall dressed in a white robe, following meekly.

"Diana told me what you saw" Elizabeth told let's the statement hang in the air. Jessica is silent, her face buried in her pillow. Elizabeth walks over and sits on the bed. She strokes Jessica's back, but Jessica recoils. Elizabeth sighs.

"Jessica, do you think moving from a hunter-gatherer to an agricultural society was a positive or negative step for the humans?" Elizabeth asks. Where is the crazy bitch going with this? Jessica thinks.

"What do you think is more terrifying for an animal, being pursued, captured, torn apart, or being domesticated? What is more...humane" Elizabeth says bitterly, "to be hunted, or to be slaughtered by a nurturing farmer at the end of a life of peace?"

"Dear, I know this is all a lot to absorb. I know it's...difficult...for you given how recently you were reborn. But I want to elevate our society, from hunting to a more advanced, a more humane...model. It will all be much more civilized."

Jessica shudders, disgusted. She wants to farm them! Jessica screams in her head but stays silent. She wants to vomit again, but her stomach is empty.

"Of course, the humans still hunt for sport. They aren't as compassionate as you think" Elizabeth monologues "More evolved creatures predate on less evolved creatures. The humans celebrate this law, they just are mistaken about who the dominant race is on this planet" Elizabeth says smugly.

Jessica replays the scene she saw in Diana's room over in her mind. Somehow, I doubt Elizabeth's altruism she thinks sarcastically. Elizabeth strokes Jessica's back affectionately. "Why don't you feed, dear" Elizabeth suggests, "I promise you'll feel much better afterwards." Elizabeth beckons at the thrall, who walks over to the bed and lies down next to Jessica.

"Drink me, Mistress" the thrall says, brushing the hair away from her neck. Jessica just wants to disappear.