0127

While Elizabeth and Sabastian talked about their histories, Sol was looking to find out as much as he could about the situation in the city. What he found, however, was the start of something much larger.

After leaving Sabastian, he went to the coven house of the Zion clan. The founder of the house was a resolutely religious vampire. Sol and he had become friends in the Old World and were friendly up until the day he disappeared in the New World.

It was an unusual clan that was steeped in religion. They occupied an old church, were all named after Christian figures, and had many rituals in their daily life. Although he believed the Zionists, as they preferred to be called, went too far, there were aspects of their lives that were appealing to him. When not with Elizabeth, Sol was often with the Zionists at the Church.

"Mark, how are you?" Sol asked of the guard at the front gate.

"I am well, but I am afraid I can't let an Enforcer pass these gates."

"I am no longer an Enforcer. Besides, you know full well I intend you and your clan no harm."

"I've been given orders Sol. I can't do anything about it."

"Can you get a message to Pauly, then, and tell him I want to see him?"

"Well, that’s the thing. Paul is in charge, but our founder John Paul is back."

"John Paul? I haven't seen him in a hundred years or more. If what you say is true, I am certain he would be angry with you for not letting me in to your coven house."

"Both he and Paul left strict orders to let no one outside our order into the Church."

"Please, Mark, get a message to JP and tell him Sol is here to see him."

"If you were anyone else Sol, I wouldn't do this."

"But I'm not, and I thank you greatly," Sol said, putting his hand on the vampire's shoulder.

Within minutes of making the call, Paul came running down the church steps. "Sol, Sol, it is very good to see you. Come in, Come in, John Paul sends his apologies about the rudeness of our guard," he said glaring at Mark.

"Pauly," Sol said, taking the man's out stretched hand, "it is good to see you. But don't feel badly about Mark. He was following his orders, and doing a good job of it, too. Besides, these are odd times. You can't be too careful."

"This is very true, very true. But the times are odder than you think," Paul said, taking him in through the gate, up the stairs, past two more guards, and into the church.


[Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005. All rights reserved.]
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