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"John Paul said that Thomas was the seed of our kind's destruction?" Sol asked.

"Yes, silly isn't it," Elizabeth said. "I think the court sent him to the New World because they feared he would overthrow them. They have always treated him with respect, but have kept him at a distance. It became even worse after John Paul's accusations. I was his servant through the whole episode, it was a very difficult time for him."

"Have you ever heard of the prophecies?" Sol asked.

"You mean about the Father?"

"Yes."

"They are old wives tales. There is no truth at all to those stories."

"Then were did we come from?" Sol asked.

"The truth is that we are an ancient variant of the humans. We are their predator," Elizabeth said.

"Then what of the four?"

"It is not so grand a story. We grew too powerful for our own good. We ruled the Earth with humans as our slaves and food. But failure often follows power. Great wars started as warlords sought to take total control.

"Almost all of our kind were killed. The Four banded together to unify the land. They wiped out all that opposed them and left the world with only their distinct bloodlines. They are all descended from one, the one people call the Father.

"John Paul's version of our history is fanciful, but it just isn't true. It is made to suck in the weak minded," Elizabeth paused. "I don't mean..."

"No offence taken," Sol said. "How much of this does Sabastian know?"

"Sabastian? Probably nothing. He never cared too much about our history. He was always infatuated with humanity. In fact, he never really cared for any vampire at all."

"Other than you," Sol said.

"Perhaps, but I always knew in my heart that he was beyond my reach. He may care about me, but it's more like a dear friend."

"So Thomas taught you all of this?" Sol asked.

"Some, the rest came from the Keeper."

"Who?"

"The scribe who has chronicled our kind's history since well before my time. He is, like John Paul, from the four."

"I've never heard of him, why?" Sol had heard of the keeper, but was playing dumb to illicit more information, a tactic he used often—particularly with his sire.

"He keeps a very low profile. In fact, you have probably met him, but you just didn't know it. He lives in the east. His home is deep in the mountains of what is now Northern China.

"It's very peaceful, but bitterly cold. I've been there three times. Once with Thomas as he sought to discredit John Paul, and two times by myself. The last time I went was after Sabastian and I separated. The Keeper is very kind and comforting. He likes to listen. And if you get him at the right time, he'll tell you stories about our kind that you wouldn't believe."

"The Keeper," Sol said, looking aimlessly across the room.

"Yes, well, that's enough history for one night, tell me about how you and your band of misfits are doing."


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