One would think it would get easier to talk about the Rain of Fire, given the distance and time. But it was never easy. And Sam supposed she should be grateful for that. Somehow, she decided, it made her feel more human that way. And she liked feeling human. Every single reminder of pain and helplessness made her feel one step removed from being a Predator. And most Kindred, really.

She spoke slowly. Haltingly. "There were some really, really bad people," she said. It seemed generous to even call them 'people.' "And they found out that the vampires had...had decided to 'come out.' To reveal themselves to the world. And these people...they had once been vampires too, but they'd taken a step up the predatory ladder...they didn't want that. And so...they decided to remind vampires of their place."

Sam hated that figure of speech. 'Know your place.' 'Remember your place.' All that crap they'd said to Avery, before consenting to release the hostages they'd mutilated.

"So they contributed to a worldwide blackout and...one timezone at a time, they caused every satellite orbiting the earth to drop. LA got hit the worst, we think. We don't know because they're still no communication but...we got hit by the International Space Station. Took out almost every building taller than seven stories. And about a third of the population."