Book Two, Chapters 109 to 120

The Vampire's Daughter
Book Two
The Beginning of Another
Chapters 109 to 120


Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005.
All rights reserved.

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0109
"Isn't this better than hiding in an abandoned home?" Sol asked out loud.

"Yeah," answered Susan as she ran into the house ahead of the others. She quickly scuttled away to play.

"How did you manage to acquire this house in such a short period of time?" Sabastian asked.

"Honestly, Sabastian, how did you survive so long without a lawyer?"

"Hard currency. How can you trust the humans so easily?"

"It isn't so much trust, back in the Old World I adopted an orphan, if you will. I sent him to school and set him up with a regal lifestyle. His descendants work exclusively for me. They think that I am a reclusive and very wealthy family. I keep their family wealthy and they do my bidding. It is a symbiotic relationship."

"I'm kind of shocked you don't have a similar arrangement," Mary added.

"I can see the benefits, but the risks are still significant."

"That is true," Mary responded, "I've had to kill a number of my helpers because they discovered what I was or they attempted to take advantage of me."

"I've had to, well, trim the ranks at times myself. But the benefits more than outweigh the negatives," Sol said. "Perhaps I can set you up with a branch of my lawyers."

"I will think about it," Sabastian said as he walked to a large picture window overlooking the Long Island Sound.

Sol's lawyers had found a large waterfront home in Rye. It was old construction, but solid. Sabastian liked it, it had character. It had stood the test of time.

Equally as important, it had a large basement and was very secluded. It wasn't his brownstone, but he felt that, in time, it would feel like home.

"What about my brownstone?" Sabastian asked, still looking out the window.

"Nothing, I suppose," answered Sol.

"I will need some of my things."

"We all will," said Mary. "We'll send our lawyers to get whatever we need."

"No, I will get the things I need myself," Sabastian responded.

"Do you think that wise?" Sol asked.

"I am not afraid of Thomas or his Enforcers. I will need a car to drive me."

"What about Susan?" asked Claudia, she had been quietly listening until that point.

"You will watch her until my return. I should not be more than a night or two."

"If something happen to you?"

"Sol and Mary will insure that Susan is well taken care of."

"Sol, your man selected a wonderful house for us," Mary started, changing the topic, "but have you noticed that there's no furniture?"

0110
"Sol, please take Claudia and Susan back to the motel. We will stay here tonight. You and Mary can acquire furniture tomorrow night while I collect some things from New York City," Sabastian stated.

"Where is Susan?" asked Sol.

"I haven't seen her since we came in," answered Mary.

"Sabastian?" Claudia asked.

Looking at his three companions, Sabastian answered, "She is upstairs at the far end of the house. She is playing."

"How did you..." Mary started before Claudia cut her off by asking, "Have you not seen the change?"

Mary and Sol looked at each other. It had only been a week since the final battle with the Smithson clan, the fight that took Susan's father from her. She was truly an orphan now.

But it seemed that she was happier. Even in that short time the change was obvious. It was like a weight had been lifted from her. She was now free to be a child, or at least more child like than before.

The connection between Sabastian and Susan had also grown. In fact, the two of them spent a great deal of time together playing and talking. Sol had even noted how well the normally stuffy and serious Sabastian handled Susan.

There was a deep connection, almost as if they had each found what they were looking for.

"I will go get her," Sabastian said, as he walked out of the living room. Navigating the house to find Susan, he reflected on Mary's unfinished question. How did he know?

He felt closer to Susan now that she was truly in his care, but there was more to it than that. Sabastian probably could have felt where anyone was in the house, but the richness and detail of what he saw of Susan was extreme. It was as if he was looking through her eyes.

When he came to the room, he stood in the doorway watching her play. She had taken out a doll that Sabastian had given her a few days ago. She was talking with it while they both looked out the window.

"I think we'll be happy here, don't you?" she asked the doll.

"Yes, it's a very nice house with a great big yard."

"Do ya think Sabastian will let us get a tree house for that big tree over there?" Susan asked, as Sabastian made a mental note that he had to build a tree house.

"Oh, most certainly."

"I think so, too, Elizabeth."

0111
A little taken aback by the fact that Susan used his sire's name for the doll, Sabastian said, "Susan, it is time for you and Claudia to go back to the motel."

"But I want to stay with you," she responded, walking over and letting him pick her up.

"I would like that very much, but we have no beds. It would not be nice to make Claudia sleep on the floor."

"So she can go to the motel and I can stay with you."

"Would you let Claudia sleep all alone in the motel?"

"No, guess not. But what about you, without me you'll be all alone?"

"I will have Sol and Mary," he answered, as he carried her down the steps. Susan's observation, however, hit home. Even with his two companions, Sabastian would be alone. They were the same as he was, but so very different.

He couldn't sort the feelings out, but he had always been alone. Even when he was with Elizabeth he was alone. He enjoyed Sol's company. Mary seemed equally as pleasant. Yet neither made him feel, for lack of a better term, not alone. Susan was the only one who could do that.

Susan was Sabastian's coven. No other being could fill the role she had taken.

"Here she is," Sabastian announced, as he carried her into the living room.

"We're gonna go sleep in the motel, right Claudia?" she asked, wiggling down and going to the woman's side.

"Yes, child. Sol take us to motel now."

Sol and his two charges were on the way out when Susan turned and said, "I love you Sabastian."

"I love you, too," he replied.


0112
"How long have you known Sol?" asked Mary, as Sol's car pulled away from the house.

"Only slightly longer than I have known you," answered Sabastian.

"Do you trust him?"

"He has never knowingly lied to me. More important, however, was Susan's desire for him to join us. How long have you known him?"

"A few years."

"Do you trust him?"

"I don't know. We didn't know each other like that. He was an Enforcer. He was to be feared. Though I can't recall a time when he proved that fearing him was necessary. In fact, his position as second in command of the Enforcers always seemed odd to me. To everyone.

"Of course the interactions I've had with him wouldn't be something he'd remember. Mostly it was me watching him in Tribunal meetings. He is striking."

"Is he? I had not noticed."

"Yes, he is quite handsome. It seems that Elizabeth has good taste."

"Do you think so?" Sabastian asked, feeling somewhat flattered.

"Yes, but that's another topic. You spoke with Elizabeth as we were leaving my clan's house. How do you know her?" asked Mary.

"She is my sire."

Mary said nothing for a moment, but Sabastian could sense her surprise. "Ask what you want, I will answer as best I can."

"How can that be? You’re an ancient."

"No, I am not an ancient."

"Then how are you so powerful?"

"You have seen that with your own eyes."

"You drink the blood of our own."

"Yes."

"Why don't more of our kind do this if it brings such power?"

"The rules are one reason, but I suspect that most would fall pray to the bloodlust if they did not go insane from the experience. Of course either would quickly lead to an untimely death."

"What is it like?"

"What do you experience when you drink the blood of a human?" asked Sabastian.

"A rush of power and dreams. I see them and their lives. The slower I drink the more I experience."

"When you take one of our kind, you experience not only the life of your immediate victim, but also the lives of all of his victims. Moreover, they do not slip into your subconscious. They swim about in your mind for years, surfacing every so often to let you know they are still with you."

"That sounds horrible."

"It can be."


0113
"How many of our kind have you killed?" Mary asked, as the two of them began to explore the house.

"How many humans have you killed?"

"There have been so many that I lost count years ago."

Sabastian did not reply.

"What room will you sleep in?" Mary asked after they had wandered the rest of the house in silence.

"I assumed we would share the basement."

"The basement?" Mary asked with a mixture of surprise and disgust.

"Most of the elders sleep in basements," Sol announced, leaning in the doorway. Mary, startled, turned to look at Sol, while Sabastian continued to look out the window. "It makes them feel safer. It's really only the new blood that sleeps above ground."

"But Sabastian said he isn't an ancient."

"By years he is not, but by blood I suspect he is one of the oldest you have ever met. I've felt his wrath, he has more power than he even knows."

"Hyperbole," Sabastian said quietly.

"And he is quite modest," added Sol.

"I will be spending the day in the basement, you are both welcome if you wish to join me," Sabastian said.

"Until we get the house set up, I think it is best that we heed Sabastian's advice and sleep below ground."

"I've spent a week in a run-down, abandoned house, I’m not sleeping in a dirty basement. I'll sleep in a closet before I spend another night in such filth."

"Whatever you decide is best," Sabastian said, leaving the room. Sol followed.

"I'll see you in the evening," Mary yelled after them.

On the way to the basement, Sol asked, "Sabastian, do you think we can trust her?"

"Funny," he replied, "she asked me the same thing about you."

"And what did you say?"

"The same thing I will tell you. Susan believes you are trustworthy, and I respect her judgement."

"You trust your life to a child?"

"Yes, I do. But what really interests me is that Mary and you trust me."

"From what I have seen of your loyalty, we have nothing to fear from you. Mary, however, is another issue.

"Although my direct dealings with her have been few, one does not rise to the hierarchy of the Smithson clan because they are trustworthy and kind."

"Nor does one rise in the ranks of the Enforcers based on these qualities."

"My place in the Enforcers was contrived, you know that."

"Yes," Sabastian replied, "but Mary does not."


0114
Susan and Claudia’s bodies were adjusting to their new lifestyle. They didn't wake up until early afternoon. After they got washed and dressed, Susan announced that she wanted to go to the house.

"Child, we wait for night. We not want disturb Sabastian and his friends."

"We'll be quiet."

"We talk about it after we eat," Claudia replied, trying to deflect Susan's request.

"What're we gonna eat?"

"I call cab, we go to diner."

Sol's lawyer had arranged for the house and a sizeable sum of cash. Claudia had a few hundred dollars of this money.

Susan ordered a Belgian waffle with fruit on top, while Claudia had eggs and toast.

They talked aimlessly for a while about the boats in the harbor just behind the diner and the food. Then, out of nowhere, Susan said, "It's hard right now. I know you’re worried. You don't need to be. It'll get better soon."

Claudia looked at the little girl for a moment before saying, "Yes, I sure you right."

"Are you really unhappy?" the little girl asked.

"I am sad, so many good people die." If another child had said this, Claudia would have humored her. But Susan was different, she would see through the lie.

"Yeah, it’s kind of sad. I guess.

"But they died so I could be with Sabastian. It's where I'm supposed to be."

"Is that so little one? How you know?"

"I just know. Besides, my mom is still with me. She's in Sabastian. It's sad about the others. I wish Wayne were with mom, but that's how the waffle crumbles," she said with a giggle, as she put the last piece of her breakfast in her mouth.

Claudia marveled at her little ward. She was so young, yet understood so much. "Let Claudia pay and then we walk through the town."

When Claudia got up, she walked by a woman in her mid fifties. They smiled at each other. When the woman turned back to her coffee, she saw Susan.

The woman's eyes openned wide, as if she had seen a ghost. Susan smiled and waved. The woman waved back and Susan started to play with a plastic dog she had gotten from a happy meal a few nights before.

The woman watched as Claudia came back, gathered Susan, and walked with the little girl toward the town.


0115
After spending some time looking around the shops in town, Claudia took Susan to a local park. She played by herself and with other children for a few hours, before Claudia said it was time for dinner.

The two walked back into town and grabbed some pizza. By the time they were done, it was growing dark. "Let us go to house now," Claudia said, as they left.

The pair arrived at the house to find Sol, Mary, and Sabastian talking about furniture. The debate was about whether or not new furniture should be purchased or if they should simply get their old belongings.

Claudia broke in to say that a new start should begin with new furniture. Mary and Susan simply liked the idea of going shopping. And Sol and Sabastian liked the furniture they had collected through the years. The end result was that Sabastian was allowed to do whatever he wanted with the basement, Sol was given a bedroom and study to do with as he chose and the three women would decorate the rest of the house.

With that decided, Mary, Claudia and Susan took a car to White Plains to get in some shopping before the stores closed. Sol and Sabastian, meanwhile, drove to the city to gather the things they wanted.

"This might be dangerous," Sol said as they started out.

"If we stay together, it should not be," was Sabastian's reply.

The rest of the trip was spent in relative silence, as Sabastian thought that Sol drove far too fast. He felt that he would rather die at the hands of the Tribunal, if it still existed, than in a mangled car wreck. Sol, however, wouldn't heed his warnings, so Sabastian's mind was mostly distracted by the objects speeding by the window.

Once in the city, they stopped at Sol's Upper East Side apartment. Upon entering, Sol sighed, "Thank God, I was afraid they would destroy everything."

"Surprisingly it does not appear that anyone has even been here," replied Sabastian. "I suspected they would search everything fully."

"Yes, it's odd. That's the first thing I would have ordered."

"Well, let us view this as good fortune, or perhaps Thomas' largess. Either way, you should decide what things you wish to bring and we can order them in such a way that your lawyers can have them moved."

"Yes, I'd think speed is of the essence."

Sol and Sabastian spent a couple of hours moving furniture and other belongings around so that there was a pile of "keep" items in the living room. "I guess it's off to your place now," said Sol, as he moved the last belongings into the pile.

Coming out of the building, Sabastian said quietly, "I believe we have company."


0116
"There are five of our kind down the street. They are coming this way," Sabastian said with a nod of his head.

"I see them, are they from the Tribunal?" asked Sol.

"No," Sabastian answered, as the group started running toward them. "They are protecting their clan's territory."

Sabastian walked forward toward the running men. Two of them lunged at him. He dodged one and took the full force of the second. They fell backwards to the ground, as a third man ran up to kick him. The other two were going for Sol.

Sabastian shoved his fist through the chest of the man on top of him, pulling organs out the other side. The other man managed two blows to his head before Sabastian was able to grab the offending foot and pull him to the ground. He pushed the dead body off of him, and crawled on top of the second man, draining his life from him.

Sol was now fighting the other three, keeping them at bay with a steel post. Sabastian walked up behind one and ripped his head off with his bare hands. The others stood in shock just long enough for Sol the shove the metal post through one and Sabastian to get his hand around the other's neck.

"Kill that one," Sabastian commanded. Sol shoved his hand into the vampire's chest and searched around inside for his heart. Finding it, he pulled with all his might to rip it out. He noted how difficult it was for him to rip it out, yet how easy it was for Sabastian to do the same thing.

When Sol looked back at Sabastian, the remaining vampire was already drained and crumpled on the floor.

"What was that all about?" asked Sol.

"It seems that Thomas has not had an easy time taming the city."

"So the Tribunal fell, and now the clan's are fighting for control."

"So it seems. Shall we move on to my home now?" Sabastian asked, after they had moved the bodies to a nearby rooftop so the sun would dispose of them.

"Aren't you concerned about the city? About what will happen?"

"Not in the least. The Tribunal was not a part in my life, its fall is inconsequential to me."

"I need to find out more," Sol said. "I need to know if Elizabeth is O.K."

"You do as you must. I hope to see you back at our new home before sunrise."

The two separated. Sol running to his car and heading toward Elizabeth's home, Sabastian heading on foot to his brownstone.


0117
Sabastian arrived at his home without incident. He noted that many of his kind watched him along the way, but none confronted him. From their minds, he could sense the conflict going on in the city.

From the outer court, his house appeared to be intact. He sensed a presence about the building, but could not place it. He walked to the inner court and to the front door. The lock was broken.

As he pushed the door open he heard a woman yell, "Now!" Two bodies hurtled toward him. He had time to brace himself, and was able to remain standing as the two vampires crashed into his body. Staggering back, he threw one out the door, and lifted the other by the scruff of his neck before he heard, "Sabastian, my dear."

Dropping the attacker he held, he said, "Elizabeth, I am surprised to see you. Especially here."

Waving the vampires off she said, "Yes, well, Thomas' grand plan didn't play out quite as well as he had hoped. Despite the near annihilation of the Smithson clan, the city still erupted into civil war."

"I noticed that."

"It would be hard not to. My apartment, unfortunately, resides in another clan's territory. So I have been displaced."

"And yet you still manage to look radiant," Sabastian said to lighten the mood.

"Always!"

"So why is my home your refuge?"

"Well, it wasn't but Thomas and I had something of a falling out."

"Is he a danger to you?"

"No, we both need time to cool off. I'm still sensitive about the Tribunal issue and he has a civil war to fight. We said things in the heat of the moment. Nothing more. In fact, the two you so deftly throttled were sent by him to insure my safety."

"A grand escort to be sure," Sabastian replied, in jest.

"Yes, but I don't think you are a fair comparison."

"You flatter me. But why my home?"

"It seemed as good as any, besides I suppose I hoped you would return some day. I simply hadn’t thought that day would be so soon."

"I am only here to acquire some belongings. Then I must find Sol and depart."

"Sol, is he with you?"

"No, actually, he is looking for you. I fear he has gone to your former home to find you."

"That's unfortunate," Elizabeth said, with a look of concern. "I hope he isn't fool enough to get caught."

"I am sure he will be able to handle himself. At least until I am done here."

"Yes, you said you were taking things. I wish you would take it all! Your taste is so old fashioned. I was going to have it put into a room on the third floor, but if you take it, all the better."

"Am I to assume that you are moving in to my home?"

"Yes, that is O.K., isn't it?"

"You would not listen if I said no, anyway."

"True."

"I would appreciate if you fixed the door."

"I will. And I'd like to rummage through that wonderful room full of jewelry before you steal away with it."

"Perhaps I should allow you to pack my things up?" Sabastian said in jokingly.

"Oh, what a wonderful idea! That way I can keep what I like and you'll take the rest. Don't worry, I'll pay you for anything I keep."

"I was joking, as you well know, but aside from some minor items that I will take with me tonight, your proposal is acceptable."

"Grand, now show me how to get into the basement."


0118
Sabastian showed Elizabeth how to get into the basement, a task that required opening several different mechanical locks.

"This is a very complicated system," Elizabeth remarked.

"It has kept me safe and, more importantly, it does not require your modern technology to work. Too many of our kind rely on electricity to keep them safe."

"You are so very old fashioned, my dear."

"I will take that as a compliment."

Sabastian began to collect his things, including a large number of small paintings.

"Is that your family?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes."

"Are there any left?"

"None that I follow closely. When my daughter's children died, I lost interest."

"I'm sorry," Elizabeth said, putting her arm around Sabastian and laying her head on his shoulder.

"For what? You no longer owe me apologies."

"You are too kind. It seems to me that I owe you an increasing number. It starts with your daughter and, at the moment, ends with the events of the other night.

"I knew nothing of his plans. You must believe me."

"I know he used you. I do not fault you for what happened."

"Thank you, my dear. But I will always feel regret when it comes to you."

"Well, as it stands, the only thing I fault you for, at the moment, is breaking my front door. I hope you regret that enough to fix it quickly," he said, passing a hand over her hair.

"You are a dear, of course I'll fix it."

After putting his things into a small box, the two of them went upstairs to find Sol sitting in the living room chatting with Elizabeth's guards.

"Ah, there you are,” he said to Elizabeth and Sabastian as they entered. “I wish you had left a forwarding address. It would have been so much easier to find you if I'd known you had moved."

"I'm sorry Sol, for so many things."

"You did not know. I am angry, but I can't fault you."

"It is getting late," Sabastian interrupted. "Elizabeth has decided to steal my home from me and, to make matters worse, selectively take my belongings."

"Oh posh, you agreed to it."

"You say that as though you offered me a choice. I have collected the things that are most important to me.

"Sol, is it agreeable with you that Elizabeth contact me through you when she is ready to have the rest of my belongings sent to our new home?"

"Of course."

"Good. Take good care of my home," Sabastian said, kissing Elizabeth's hand. "Sol, shall we take our leave?"


0119
"So, what did Elizabeth tell you about the situation in the city?" Sol asked Sabastian, as he pulled the car from the curb.

"Not much, just that Thomas is having a harder time than he expected taking control of the city."

"Is that all?"

"That and the fact that she is staying at my home because she is angry at him over the way he used her, and you, to orchestrate the fall of the Tribunal."

"My sources tell me that the two of them had a larger falling out then her explanation suggests."

"Really? When did you have time to check with your sources?"

"I was an odd selection to be second in command of the Enforcers because I've always tried to look at both sides of every situation. Being so open minded has resulted in many friendships you could describe as unusual. Thankfully, when I arrived at Elizabeth's home, I ran into friends, not enemies.

"They explained that Thomas was able to retain about 75% of the Enforcers. The rest were either killed or escaped and sided with their clans.

"Thomas clearly has a large and powerful army, but not strong enough to take the entire city. He controls from 58th street down, though there are still pockets of resistance within that territory."

"And what about Elizabeth and Thomas?"

"It seems that there was a large battle up by Central Park. He commanded her to take a group into the heart of the fight to take on an ancient who resurfaced to support his clan. Elizabeth's group was no match for the ancient and she knew it. She pulled her men out and, instead, lashed out at Thomas for trying to set her up again.

"It was a wholly public display condemning him for his actions. He struck her with all his strength, sending her about a hundred feet. She stood up, visibly shaken, but simply walked back over and resumed accosting him.

"She is lucky that he has a soft spot in his heart for her, because he ordered her to be taken away. She chose your home."

"Interesting, but not my affair. I simply want her to take good care of my home," Sabastian stated flatly. "Sol, what about you? How do you feel about Thomas?"

"Like Elizabeth, I was used. I'm angry about that. A part of me wants to see Thomas killed, another wants to see him humiliated.

"Like you, Sabastian, I am an artist. It takes a great deal to get me upset, but when I am, I'm passionate."

"How do you feel about Elizabeth?"

"I pity her, though I am glad she stood up to him."

"Still loyal?"

"Also like you," Sol answered, "I hold a deep love in my heart for our sire. A love I believe she reciprocates, even if she doesn't know how to show it."


0120
When Sol and Sabastian arrived back at the house, they found Mary sitting in a wooden folding chair looking through catalogs.

"It took you long enough," she said. "The old woman and the girl have already gone."

"This is all you brought back for us to live with?" Sol joked.

"It's all I could fit into the cab. I've already contacted my man to arrange for a second car. However, there should be a shipment of furniture coming in a week and I brought home these catalogs for the two of you. Just in case."

Sol walked over and took some catalogs, thumbing through them carelessly while leaning against a wall.

Sabastian looked at Mary and said, "Thank you for the thought, but I think I will make do with the furniture I already own."

"I figured as much," she said.

"I, however, am inclined to buy some new things," Sol announced.

At that Mary jumped up and went over to Sol to look through the catalogs.

"Mary," Sabastian began, "you said that Susan and Claudia had gone to the motel for the night."

"Yes, I did say that."

"Then I will take my leave."

"Kiss her goodnight for me, too, Sabastian," Sol said, as Sabastian left the room.

In short order, Sabastian was knocking on the hotel door. Claudia looked at the door with a worried expression. Susan, playing with a doll Mary bought her, didn't look up but said, "Don't worry, it's just Sabastian. He wants to say goodnight."

Despite this information, Claudia went through the precautions of asking who it was. She let him in after he affirmed his identity.

"Claudia, Susan," Sabastian said as he walked in to the motel room. "How was shopping?"

"It was fun," Susan announced, jumping up and running over to him. "Mary bought me a Barbi, see."

"That was very nice of her. You thanked her, I assume."

"Yeah, of course," she said, giving him a funny look while contorting her body.

"Good. Did you find anything you liked?"

"Lots! I got a bed, a dresser, and some other stuff. And she let me pick things for other rooms, too."

"Claudia?" He asked the old woman, who had resumed reading by this point.

"Yes, I find nice things, too. Too expensive, but Mary say she not buy anything less."

"I am glad you were both able to find things you like. Susan, what do think of Mary?" Sabastian asked, as he sat down on the floor to play with her.

"She's nice."

"Anything else?"

"I don't know yet. She's important, but I don't know why."

After that, Sabastian asked her to show him her new doll. They spent an hour playing together before he put her to bed early in the morning.


Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005.
All rights reserved.