0150

"There they are!" Susan exclaimed, running up to Sol and Sabastian. The pair were sitting on a bench by an indoor fountain in the mall.

"The little girl seems to have a homing beacon attached directly to you Sabastian," Mary joked, as she followed behind carrying several large bags.

"Did you find some nice clothing?" Sabastian asked Susan.

"Yeah, and Mary let me pick whatever I wanted, too."

"She has enough to last at least a couple of weeks," said Mary.

"Sol, I fear that our new companion may be as bad as Elizabeth where clothing is concerned."

"It seems as such, and you're letting her infect Susan with the same malady."

"Neither of you are funny," Mary responded. "Besides, we are all women first and vampires second.

"Besides, I'm not the only one here shopping. Right Sol."

"I confess, this is true."

"The mall is closing soon, did you find anything you like?" Mary asked.

"No. I think I'm going to stick with my current belongings for my room and revel in the new furniture you bought for the rest of the house."

"You're almost as boring as Sabastian."

"I think Sabastian's fun," defended Susan.

"Thank you," he responded.

"Well, then, Mr. Fun can carry the bags to the car," Mary said dropping them at his feet.

The group walked back to the car and headed home with the same seating arrangements.

Although Sol and Susan talked the entire trip, the conversation was trivial. Mary and Sabastian, meanwhile, didn't exchange any words until they pulled into the driveway and Sabastian said, "Slow down."

"Why?"

"We have visitors."

"Who?"

"I am not certain, but there are two outside, four inside and another two around the back."

"Oh that unfortunate old lady," Mary said.

"She is unharmed."

"If she's still alive, then she's probably serving them tea. She's always pushing that damn stuff on me."

Sabastian looked at Mary inquisitively, and then said, "Pull up behind the two cars."

"Those aren't cars, they're stretch limos. Very nice ones at that," she said, as they pulled into the large circular driveway in front of the house.

Standing outside the cars were two male vampires in old fashioned driver's uniforms. They were standing together in front of the first limo and stood tall and proper when Sabastian, Mary, Sol, and Susan got out of their cars.

Somewhat instinctively, Mary said, "Susan come stand with me." The little girl complied without a word.

Sabastian and Sol walked up to the two men, both of whom were Asian, and they bowed respectfully. The larger of the two said, "Our sire would like a word with you. She is in the house."

The drivers went back to their conversation, as the four walked to the house. When they approached the door, a female vampire, also Asian, opened it to let them in. She was dressed in a kimono. As they walked in, Sol asked Sabastian, "How many more are there?"

"At least five. Two are out back."

Once inside, the woman said, "My sire is waiting for you in the living room."

They followed her into their living room and, seated in the largest armchair, was a young Japanese woman flanked by two others. Claudia was sitting on the couch, obviously nervous.

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