0208: The Vampire's Daughter

"You don't believe you are here for any other reason than her, do you?"
Mina asked, looking at Sol and nodding her head at Susan.

"I'm here so you and I can have an understanding of each other," Sol
said.

Mina looked at him for a moment. "Well, then, I believe you have
achieved your goal," she said to Sol. "Shall I have someone show you
out?"

"I was hoping to find out more about you and your coven," Sol said.

"There isn't much more to tell. I am here to watch Thomas. I run a
brothel that allows me and my offspring to feed while not drawing
attention to ourselves. I generally don't bother with others of our
kind unless they intrude on my territory, as you did."

"Who is your sire?"

"All I can tell you is that he is one of the four."

"Many of our kind don't believe the four exist," Sol said.

"They would be fools. The four are as real as you and I, but far more
powerful. More powerful than any you have ever met."

"Where are they? Why don't they live among us?"

"They have lived long lives and prefer to be alone. Generally, their
representatives do their bidding. But they do walk among us, you just
don't know it," Mina answered. "Now it's my turn to ask a question."

"That seems fair," Sol answered.

"Why did Thomas step down from the head of his clan and the Tribunal?"

"He said he needed time to reflect, but what he wanted was for
Elizabeth to fail as its leader, allowing him to step in and claim
control of the city.

"But his plan didn't work as he had hoped. Elizabeth proved more
capable than he anticipated. It was Sabastian and Susan that,
ultimately, that caused the rift that ended the Tribunal's control of
the city.

"Now it's my turn again. You say they walk among us, but where do they
call home?"

"Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. I can be no more specific
than that. What's preventing Thomas from gaining control of the city?"

"I presume it's the same thing as when he first arrived, the spirit of
freedom. As with the humans, vampires came to the New World to be free
from the kings and queens of the Old World. They certainly don't want
to give up that freedom now. What do you know of the one called the
Keeper?" Sol asked.

"I don't know of anyone by that name," Mina responded.

"That's not true," Susan said quietly.

"What?" Sol asked her.

"She's not telling the truth, and there are five, not four."

"And how do you presume to know so much?" Mina asked.

"I just do."

"Well then, who is the fifth vampire of the Four?" she queried.

"Their father."

"What?" Mina asked, with a little shock.

"Everyone has a father," Susan said with a smile.

Mina wasn't sure if the little girl knew what she had said or not, but
it was obvious she knew more than a normal child.

"And what of the Keeper?" Sol asked.

Mina looked at him, then at Susan. Susan smiled at her.

"The Keeper exists, but I've never met him personally. At least not
that I know of. I believe he resides in Europe, but I'm not truly
certain," Mina said, before asking, "Why is Sabatian so protective of
the little girl?"

"He loves me," Susan answered before Sol had a chance.

[The Vampire’s Daughter: An ongoing vampire story. Copyright Reuben
Gregg Brewer, 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.]