0272: The Vampire's Daughter Book Three

“I tend to think you leaving is a good idea,” Sol said to Henry, causing another big laugh. Sol smiled and laughed himself.

Henry looked at Gan and said, “I see why you like the kid, he’s a good apple. And I can’t get too angry at anyone who killed that little Zion rat, anyway.”

“I didn’t kill Paul and I certainly didn’t kill John Paul,” Sol said.

“Funny, the rest of the world seems to think you did,” Henry said, looking closely at Sol.

“John Paul was an important vampire in my life. I trusted him and he trusted me. I would never have betrayed him like that,” Sol said.

“And what of Paul?” Henry asked.

“I wish I was the one who killed that bastard, but I wasn’t.”

Henry continued to look at Sol for several moments. He then turned to Gan and asked, with a nod of his head, “He’s telling the truth isn’t he?”

“Yes,” Gan said without hesitation.

Henry looked closely at Gan. “You aren’t just taking him at his word, are you. You know he is innocent.”

“I know he did not kill John Paul. I could care less about the other one,” Gan said. “But he has no reason to lie about one and not the other.”

“Well now. This is a pickle. If you didn’t kill John Paul, who did?” Henry asked Sol.

“Paul.”

“What? That doesn’t make any sense,” Henry said.

“You said yourself Paul was little more than a rat. John Paul left for some time and he had just come back. Paul didn’t like the idea of giving up control of the Zionists, so he used me as an excuse to kill John Paul. He blamed me for the death,” Sol said.

“Now that is an interesting story,” Henry responded, nodding his head. “But I don’t think the old crowns are gonna believe it. And I certainly can’t go back to them empty handed to tell it to them.”

“Well, he isn’t leaving,” Car said.

“Hello Carmelinda,” Henry said. “I didn’t see you standing there behind Gan. Still cute as a peach and cheeky as hell.” She pruned her face into a grimace at his comment and jumped at him. He caught her in his arms and they exchanged a big hug. “This little lady is the best damn assassin outside of Gan,” Henry said to Sol. “She almost killed me once while I was on assignment protecting one of the old crowns’ cad offspring.”

“Yeah, your lucky to be alive,” she said to him.

“And don’t I know it,” Henry answered with a grin as he put her down. “Well, if Car’s taken a liking to you, I know you can’t be all bad. But that doesn’t really matter much in the present situation. I’m still open for any ideas that don’t include a big battle and lots of vampires dying.”

“Henry,” Gan said. “I’d like to talk to you in private in my castle about some issues surrounding Sol’s stay here. I think you’ll find the answer you are looking for if you humor me.”

“I like humor,” Henry said, “but something tells me I won’t be laughing after this conversation. You aren’t going to kill me are you?”

“That was not my intention. If you would like, you can bring a guard along. Bring that back stabbing bitch if you would like.”

Henry laughed loudly again, “I might do that. But I want two guards and I want them with me at all times.”

“You will have them near you at all times, but I can’t allow them to be with you at all times. You’ll understand why as we talk,” Gan said.

“So why not tell me here?” Henry asked.

“Because you wouldn’t believe a word of what I told you,” Gan answered.



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