0267: The Vampire's Daughter, Book Three

Sol and Jamie spent months waiting. There were numerous, powerful vampires in Gan’s castle, but none other than the first, who Sol had taken to calling the White Vampire, had made any contact. Gan, though back from his search, hadn’t even made his presence known.

Although confinement in the inner castle of a feared assassin was at first enjoyable, as it allowed Sol time to think about recent events and gave him protection from the blood hunt that had been called for him, time was beginning to drag. He and Jamie spent a good deal of their nights with Car and her sister, who had strangely stopped trying to kill Jamie, losing at Mahjong.

When they weren’t losing at the game, Jamie watched television or read, and Sol looked out over the horizon from atop the tower. He couldn’t help wondering what was going on with his friends. This surprised him a little, as, despite the short time he spent with Sabastian, Mary, Susan and Claudia, he really did consider them his coven.

But it didn’t really matter, as he was stuck, waiting. His life potentially in the balance. This peaceful boredom, however, was soon to end.

“You spend a great deal of time up here,” Gan said from behind Sol.

Without turning, Sol answered, “Gan, it’s about time. The vampires you’ve brought are either here to kill me or they are the ones on John Paul’s list.”

“Perhaps they are both,” Gan said, walking to Sol’s side.

“Am I being called for an audience with the group?” asked Sol.

“Not yet. We are still debating.”

“We? What affiliation do you have with this group?” Sol queried.

“Your list had fourteen names on it. I was number eleven,” Gan answered.

“I’m not paying you for finding yourself,” Sol said, his mind racing from this new information. How could John Paul trust Gan, the most notorious vampire assassin? What could the pair have to do with each other? If Gan was on the list, what about the others—what kind of vampires were they?

Gan laughed, “No, I won’t charge you for that.” He put a hand on Sol’s shoulder, “I know it’s been a long time, but we are vampires. Time means little to us. In fact, time means so little to some of the old fools I’ve brought here that they insist on debating the same point for days.

“We have decided that we want to talk to you, but we haven’t decided anything beyond that. The funny thing is, based on John Paul’s letter, it was a virtual given that we would talk to you. And still they debated it for what feels like a month.”

“It’s been at least a month,” Sol said.

“Has it? I lose track of time so easily,” Gan answered.

“If you want to talk to me, what is left to debate?” Sol asked.

“If we should do it as 13, or awaken the last of us.”

“Awaken?”

“Yes, the final member of our group has been asleep for some time. There is debate over how important you really are and if it is worth waking him.”

“Who?”

“Ah, to you he will remain number 14. But, I dare say, if we bring him to this meeting, there had better be a good reason. He isn’t the type you trifle with, if you know what I mean,” Gan said.

“Well, I certainly hope you make that decision more quickly than the first,” Sol said with a resigned laugh.

“We’ll see,” Gan said. “As it stands, I just wanted you to know that there has been some progress.”

“Thank you, I guess,” Sol answered, as Gan walked toward the stairwell back into the castle. Turning he said, “Gan, I have a question.”

Stopping, but not turning, Gan said, “Yes.”

“How are you, an assassin, tied into John Paul and the Zionists?”


[The Vampire's Daughter: An ongoing vampire story. Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved.]