Book Two, Chapters 211 to 216

The Vampire's Daughter

Book Two

The Beginning of Another

Chapters 211 to 216

Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005, 2006.

All rights reserved.

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0211

Having forcibly lifted Susan up, John Paul looked her in the eyes and said, "I control your destiny, not some mythical god."

"That's just not true," a man's voice said from across the room.

Paul tossed the girl to the floor and spun to see an Arab sitting on the bed in the far corner of the room. "Where did you come from?"

"I've been here the whole time."

"Who the hell are you?"

"An interesting way to phrase that question. My name is Judas. Judas Iscariot."

"You aren't funny."

"I wasn't trying to be."

"Well, Judas, do you think you can stop me?"

"It doesn't have to be like this," Susan sobbed.

"Oh, but it does," Paul said, turning toward the girl. "I have to kill you before Sol has a chance to infect everyone with John Paul's twisted imaginings. You must die before the simple minded believe in you. I must save what I've created, and nothing this one can do will stop me."

He started to walk toward Susan, his back to the door, when a shaft of metal ran through the center of his chest. He screamed in pain, swung around and threw his attacker into the wall.

Staggering back toward the girl Paul said, "This will not stop me from killing you."

Judas' hand touched Paul's shoulder as he said, "Yes, it will." Paul fell to his knees, eyes wide. "You belong to me now," Judas said.

Susan began to cry and then ran to Claudia's body, which was crumpled by the wall. "I'm sorry Claudia. I didn't want this. I love you."

"I love you, too," Claudia said. "Let me go free."

Susan sat holding Claudia's head in her lap with her eyes shut. She couldn't say the words.

"It must be done," a voice said. "She is mine." Claudia's bodyrelaxed in Susan's arms.

"And that's when you came home," Susan said to Mary, ending her story of the prior night.

Mary was in a daze. Of course Susan left out the parts where Judas and the one who took Claudia were involved, but the story was still unreal. Mary wasn’t sure what to believe of it, but from what she had seen, there was no reason to doubt the girl. "You have no idea what happened to Sol?" Mary asked, deciding to just accept the story and move on to what was really important.

"No," answered Susan. "He just left."

Sol was so frightened by seeing Judas playing with Susan that he simply lost his senses. He couldn't believe what she said was possible, but, at the same time, knew it was true. Sol felt he had to talk to John Paul.

He ran to his car and raced into the city. Outside the Church, he thought as hard as he could about JP. After a few moments, a voice in his head said, "Go to the front door." He did.

As he arrived, John Paul pushed open the door and rushed Sol up to his residence in the bell tower.

"Tell me what's brought you to me in this state?" he asked Sol, sensing the confusion his friend was feeling.

"I walked in to see the girl, Susan, and she was playing with a man. When I saw him he disappeared. She said his name was Judas. The Judas."

"What girl?" JP asked.

"The girl Sabastian has taken as his own."

"Why did you not tell me of this sooner?" John Paul asked.

"I... I wasn't ready," Sol said.

"You saw this girl playing with Judas, the betrayer?"

"Yes."

"My God," John Paul said. "My God!" he exclaimed.

0212

"This is it," John Paul said to Sol. "This is what I've been waiting for. This is why I'm here. Why I'm back.

"Sol, you are the Sun, just as I told you. You are the chosen one. You will pave the way for Sabastian, for her." He kneeled down in front of Sol and kissed his hands. "I am your servant, tell me what you wish of me."

"John Paul, I... I'm confused. I don't understand. I have always believed in God, but this?" Sol fumbled.

"You are part of the plan. We are all part of the plan. But I forget my role. You are still uncertain and I must help you. Come, I have something for you," JP said, taking Sol over to a chest.

Opening the top and ripping out the lining, he presented Sol with a sheet of paper. "I know you, you must learn for yourself. You must touch the wound."

Sol looked at the paper, feeling shame at his inability to believe.

"It's OK, God loved Thomas as much as the others. These names, they are very old. They may be dead or have new names by now. But they are a starting place for your search. They are believers and they know the scriptures.

"Come, come," JP said again, pulling Sol with him to a desk. He pulled out a page of paper and wrote on it. "Give the first one on the list you find this note, whoever it is will understand and help."

"What does it say?" Sol asked.

"Nothing, nothing," JP said, folding it and sealing it with wax. He pressed his ring into the wax. "I will continue my preaching here while you go and learn. You are the Sun, how could I have been so blind for so long." He chuckled and stood. "Go, learn, and return to me."

John Paul put his arm around Sol and guided him toward the door to the steps. As he touched the handle, the door opened and Paul walked in, followed by the rest of the Zionist's elders.

"John, Mark, Simian, Zane, Philip, I'm glad you're here. I have the most exciting news. The time is now. What we have been waiting for is happening. It is a glorious day."

"You couldn't leave him alone, could you?" Paul asked Sol. "He is sick. His slumber has left him feeble minded. Is this what you wanted?"

"What are you talking about?" JP asked. "Sol is the one. He is going to usher in the chosen one. He is why we exist."

"Poor, poor John Paul," Paul said walking to his sire. "Do you really believe Sol, an unbeliever, is the one we have been waiting for? He is not. Nor is the girl, what's her name, Susan, any more important."

"How do you know her name?"

"I know a great deal about what goes on in the world. You, Sabastian, the girl, and a few others are living in Rye."

"How?"

"I have my resources, just as you do."

Sol was uncertain of Paul's intentions, but could feel that the situation was grave. He looked at each of the elders, trying to probe them for any hint of what was to come. He knew them all, some more closely than others, and couldn't believe they would follow Paul so blindly.

Each of them was hand chosen by John Paul. Could he have misjudged them all so badly?

After looking at each and getting nothing, Sol said, "If you know so much, then you must know that Sabastian won't let anything happen to the girl."

0213

"The girl is immaterial. She is nothing," Paul said to Sol. "All of this is a mirage in John Paul's imagination. He longs so much for the scriptures to be true that he has created the story.

"You are doing no more than feeding his illness. I asked for your help, and yet you seem to be working for our demise.

"Is that what this is all about Sol? Is this all some twisted plot that Thomas has hatched to get rid of us? Are the Zionists that high up on his hit list?"

"I'm not here to hurt John Paul or his clan," Sol said.

"You aren't? Then why are you feeding John Paul these lies? Do you really expect anyone to believe you saw Judas, the Judas, playing with this human girl? It's preposterous."

John Paul put his hand on Sol's shoulder and hung his head. "It pains me to admit that you were right. A profit is never accepted by his own people." Lifting his head to look at Sol, he said, "I have done what I can for you. I am sad that I will not be here to see the glory of what is to come, but if it is his will, we will meet again.

"I fear my task on Earth is done. I hope I have served you well. Now go find your answers."

As he finished his sentence, a spike was thrust threw John Paul's chest. He looked into Sol's eyes, which were wide in horror, and said, "Run."

Sol turned toward a boarded up window and threw himself out. As he was falling he heard Paul yell out, "Zane, command a blood hunt for Sol. He has killed our beloved leader. He will pay!"

Sol landed flat on his back in a hedge. Stunned but not hurt, he could hear the Zionists wailing inside the Church. John Paul must have orchestrated the entire event, pulling his clan in for the “show.”

Sol scrambled to his feet and ran. He didn't know where to go or what to do, so he just kept running.

When he finally stopped, he was in a nondescript ally in the financial district. Some yellow Police tape fluttered off the corner of a dumpster. He walked to the end of the alley, behind the dumpster and sat down.

Sol knew his options were limited if Paul had announced a blood hunt. He didn't dare bring this to their home, there was no telling what Sabastian would do. Let alone the danger that Susan would face.

He sat for a few moments and then opened his cell phone. "I need to be on a plane for Europe before sunrise."

"Yes, before sunrise."

"Germany."

"You will make it possible. Send a car to Trinity Church in New York City's financial district."

"No buts, get it done," he said coldly, before he hung up. He pulled out the letter and the list of names.

He wanted to open the letter, but knew he couldn't, so he put it back into his pocket. He then scanned the list. The few names he recognized were ancients that he knew only by reputation, others he had never seen.

Sol couldn't believe all that had happened over such a short period of time. It was even harder to believe the situation he was now living. He wasn't sure what emotion to feel. Anger, fear, hate... In the end, he realized that he couldn't feel much of anything.

"So be it," he said, standing up and walking toward Trinity Church.

0214

Susan's description of the night's events didn't include every detail. In fact, it left out many important details, such as why Sol actually left and how the body got into the refrigerator. Mary, however, wasn't in the state of mind to question the little girl. And, of course, neither knew what had happened to Sol after he left.

All Mary was sure of was that she didn't know what to do. In fact, Susan's idea to see Mina seemed the only option.

When they arrived, Mary rang the door, looking up when she felt she was being watched.

Inside, Mina quickly changed the channel away from the door camera and looked up at her guests with a smile. "Sin, please see our newest arrival to room 13. Make sure they are properly looked after."

"Right away," Sin responded, knowing that something was wrong since there was no room 13.

"You seem tense," Thomas said to Mina after Sin had left.

"No, it isn't tension, it's anger. You are disrupting my operations."

"Perhaps, but I think you'll agree my offer is worth the disruption," Thomas said.

"No, actually, I don't," responded Mina. "I have no interest in joining you in attempting to take control of the city. Nor would my sire. From what I've been able to gather, you are a back stabbing, lying, bastard who cares only about himself. I have no desire join forces with someone I can't trust and would never suggest such a union to my sire."

Visibly angry, Thomas stood up and said, "I offered you an olive branch and now I offer you a sword. I will destroy you and your coven like all those that oppose me."

Mina's eyes went wide as she stood up, "You are speaking to an ancient, not a New World upstart. I am from the Four. If you care to fight me, I would gladly do so now. Just you and I, like the olden days."

Thomas laughed, "I no longer do my own dirty work. I think it's time we leave Night."

"Yes, I think it is," Mina said. "I'll see you out."

She led them through her bedroom, and not the hallway, when Thomas stopped to look at one of the walls. "Who was that at the door?" he asked.

"A customer."

"You are lying," he responded.

"Regardless," Mina said, touching his arm, "it is time for you to go back to the city."

"Yes," he said, "it is time Night and I returned to the City."

Mina led them to the door without further difficulty, then rushed back to her bedroom. Sin, Mary and Susan were all waiting for her.

0215

"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."

0216

"Sabastian, are you awake?" Elizabeth asked in the darkened cellar vault.

"Yes," he replied.

"How are you feeling today?"

He didn't reply.

"Are the voices still there?"

Again he didn't reply.

"What are they telling you?" she asked.

"To kill you," Sabastian answered.

Elizabeth said nothing for a long time. Then asked, "Why?"

"Because of what you are."

"They want you to kill me because I'm a vampire?"

"Yes, they want me to free the souls."

"And killing me will do that?" she asked.

"No, it will just add more voices to the chorus."

"I don't understand."

"Nor do I," Sabastian responded in a whisper.

~End of Book Two~

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