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"Thomas sent me to destroy the Church the second we got back to the city," Elizabeth started. "He's always hated that clan, and particularly John Paul. It infuriated him that they came to the New World.

"The city was falling around him and he wanted to destroy a non violent coven. He is so blind at times.

"Anyway, I did as I was told. It was a slaughter. They barely even fought to defend themselves. Then, all of the sudden, John Paul appears. To say the tide of the battle turned is an understatement. He was unstoppable.

"He was killing my men like they were humans. I pulled back before we were completely routed."

"But that wasn't good enough," Sol interrupted.

"No, no it wasn't. Thomas said I was a coward and that I should have fought to the death. He said I should have fought John Paul myself. He insulted me in front of most of our clan and then he struck me. He had never done that before, and his blow was heavy. It sent me off of my feet.

"I don't take criticism well, particularly when it's abusive, so I got back up and gave him a piece of my mind. Needless to say, he didn't like that. He had me taken away and threatened to kill me."

"Do you think he will?" Sol asked.

"No. But he has to make a point. I'm being used again, only this time to prove that he is in command."

"I'm sorry for that," Sol said.

"Yeah, well, not as sorry as I am. Besides, you must be happy about John Paul."

"Yes, I am. It's been nice to see JP again," Sol said tentatively.

"You don't seem so sure of that."

"He's changed a little since last we met."

"What does that mean?"

"JP's always been evangelical, it's part of what I like about him," Sol started, but was interrupted by Elizabeth.

"You like that? It's why I always avoided him. Too preachy."

"He has beliefs that he stands by, I like that. Anyway, he's even more adamant about his beliefs now. He says that we are doomed."

"Yes, well, he's been spewing that nonsense for centuries. It's why Thomas dislikes him so much."

"Is it? I wouldn't think Thomas would care," Sol said.

"He has quite strong feelings about John Paul and the Church. It's why I was sent to destroy them before all others, I think. He was, once again, blinded by his anger."

"Interesting but there must be more to the story than you are telling me."

"Well, you know that John Paul is descended directly from the four."

"Yes."

"Thomas came about much latter."

"Yes."

"Well, for a time in the Old World John Paul wielded a great deal of power over the kings and queens. The royals listened to his stories and were infatuated with their own demise. Thomas was a high-ranking warrior and could speak his mind. He clashed with John Paul on many occasions.

"One day, John Paul announced that God had spoken to him through a prophet and that Thomas would be the seed of our kind's destruction. That it was already too late to stop it. Thomas' powers were taken from him and he was put under house arrest for twenty years. They killed all of his children.

"When our demise didn't happen, he was released. I was the first he sired after his release."

"But I thought you were his servant?" Sol asked.

"I was, while he was under house arrest. Once the court allowed him his freedom, he sired me.

"When he was released, he made it a personal goal to discredit and shame John Paul. It was fairly easy to do, as John Paul's predictions hadn't come true. John Paul was basically thrown out of the court. That was when he started the Zionists.

"He took in and, being a very powerful vampire, protected any of our kind that believed, regardless of their lineage. Although none dared to take John Paul on, his followers were persecuted for their beliefs. And even then they wouldn't fight."

"When Thomas came to the New World, he was incensed that John Paul followed him. But because of the way things were here, he couldn't really do anything."


[Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.]