0215: The Vampire's Daughter

"What has happened?" Mina asked Susan.

Taken aback, Elizabeth stepped forward and started to explain, but Mina
stopped her. "I don't mean to be rude, but I fear we don't have time
for games. I asked the child and she will answer."

Susan looked at Mina and explained that both Sabastian and Sol were
gone, and that Claudia was dead.

"And what am I to do about this?" Mina asked.

"You're going to help us," Susan said.

"Why?"

"Because you know and she doesn't. Because you love her and will do
what she wants even if she doesn't know what that is yet. Because
you're going to do what's right."

"You are a brazen little imp, but I still don't know what you're
talking about. Who doesn't know?"

"Minitosa."

"How do you know that name?" Mina asked.

"I just do."

Mina walked over and lifted Susan up by the shoulders. "Why shouldn't
I kill you right now? That's what she would want."

"Is it? Then why didn't she kill Thomas when she had the chance?"

Mina looked her in the eyes and then put the girl down.

She opened the door to her office and walked in. "Please," she said,
"come with me."

Mina walked over to her desk, "Sin, Mary, sit on the couch. Susan come
over here."

Susan skipped over to Mina's desk and stood beside her. Both were
looking at the blotter, which was still covered with Susan's drawings.

"How?" Mina asked, pointing at the blotter.

"I don't know."

"That isn't an answer."

"I don't have a better one."

"I've known you for less than a week. I've only met you a handful of
times. Why should I help you?" Mina asked, as Mary and Sin looked on.

"The same reason why you didn't turn us over to Thomas. The same
reason that she," she pointed at the blotter, "hasn't killed Thomas
despite her concerns."

After a long pause, Mina picked up the phone and dialed. "Sire, there
have been several developments since last we spoke."

"No, nothing directly to do with Thomas. It is the girl I told you..."

"Yes Sire. I know the scripture, Sire. But I think..."

"Yes, I know why I am here, but I truly believe..."

"Yes Sire," Mina said before hanging up the phone. She turned to Susan
and asked, "And what do you think I should do?"

"I've never been to Europe," Susan answered.

"I can not abandon my post. And why not have Mary take you? She is
plenty capable."

"But Mary doesn't know any good private schools where I can wait for
Sabastian to get better."

Mina drew very close to Susan and quietly said, "I don't know how you
know so much about me. About anything. Perhaps it doesn't matter.
But you realize that every thing you reveal threatens the life I have
built for myself and the lives of those around you. My life would take
hundreds of years to rebuild. I don't know if the others could rebuild
theirs. You have given all of us very little choice but to help you."

Whispering, Susan responded, "Why is it so hard to believe that you
built your life for this very moment?"

Mina leaned back and said, "Sin, tell the others that I am going to
England. That you will be running the business." Sin got up and left
the room. Mina picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Charter me a
jet for three to London out of Westchester airport."

"Yes, now. Cost is irrelevant." She hung up the phone and looked at
Susan, "Happy?" she asked.

"Yup."

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