0255: The Vampire's Daughter Book Three

"Grandpa, something is very wrong. I found the house, but it's empty. The old lady Sol told me about is dead and in the freezer. I don't know what to do," Francis said, almost in one breath, as soon as he heard his grandfather's voice.

"I'm sorry, son, what's gone on?" his grandfather asked, as he only caught the information about a dead person in a freezer.

Francis took a deep breath and explained again, leading his grandfather to ask, "Has her blood been drained?"

"No, I don't think so. Why?"

"It is important that you are certain of this. Check."

"Yes, sir," Francis said, standing up and bracing himself for what he was about to do.

He walked into the kitchen and stood in front of the refrigerator. "Well?" his grandfather asked.

"I haven't checked yet," Francis said sheepishly.

He expected his grandfather to yell at him, but instead he heard, "It's O.K. son. You've been through a great deal and in a very short period of time. Take a few moments to collect yourself."

"Thank you," Francis said, breathing a bit easier. "This is the first time I've seen a dead person, you know, outside of a funeral."

"Death is not pretty. We work very hard to dress up what we don't want to see. To make the ugliness of nature appear safe and tranquil. To make ourselves believe that death is not painful in any way.

"But you can see with your own eyes that it is nothing like what you've seen at funerals. You will never view death the same way again. Nor should you, for you will visit death many more times as you traverse the path you've chosen.

"Now reach over and open the door," his grandfather instructed. Francis, much calmer, did as he was told.

He checked the body and it was obvious that most of the blood was still inside, as it had pooled in the lower extremities. "The blood doesn't appear to have been drained."

"OK," his grandfather said. "Now leave the body and get out of the house. I'll take care of it. You were sent to deliver something. What and to whom?"

"A letter to someone named Sabastian," Francis answered.

"He mentioned that name to me, but said little more. Take down this address," Francis' grandfather said, sending Francis to Elizabeth's Central Park apartment. "Ask for Elizabeth and tell her you need to deliver the note to Sabastian and on behalf of... of our mutual friend," his grandfather said, making sure not to call Sol by his name. "Call me again when you can or if you run into any trouble."

"Yes grandpa, and thank you."

"I'm glad I was able to help this time," his grandfather said before hanging up.

Francis called a car service and went outside. He did his best to return the broken door to where he found it, and then sat down and waited.



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