0274: The Vampire's Daughter, Book Three

“I think we’ve talked about it before,” Car answered. “And it is normally considered rude to ask a woman’s age.”

“We have talked about your age, but not directly,” Sol said. “Now I’m asking directly.”

“I’ve lost exact count, but I’m several hundred years old.”

“You remind me very much of another little girl I know,” Sol said.

“Well,” Car said with a wry smile, “she must be a very beautiful, intelligent, and wonderful little girl.”

“She is. Perhaps some day you will meet her.”

Gan had, by this time, brought his three guests into the castle. He took them down the dark stairwell to the suite of rooms at the bottom. Jamie stepped out, having heard voices, only to stop awkwardly.

“Not who you expected?” Gan asked.

“No, not at all.”

“You must be Jamie, Sol’s consort,” Henry said. “Don’t worry, I’ve no intention of killing you.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that. But Sol is my consort, I am not his consort,” Jamie said.

“How have you managed to survive this long?” Gan asked rhetorically. “It amazes me that someone as bright and promising as Sol would even associate with you.”

Jamie, taken aback, sputtered, “I.. I..”

“Don’t answer,” Gan said, waving his hand in Jamie’s face. “Just go back into your room where you’ll be safe. And don’t come out again until you are sent for.”

Jamie, still looking shocked, walked into the room and closed the door.

“Henry, you and I will continue alone from here,” Gan said. “The women will remain here.”

“So be it,” he answered.

“Sara,” Gan said, “try not to steal anything while we’re gone.” This caused Jennifer to chuckle. Gan gave her a little smirk, before turning and opening the one door through which Sol wasn’t allowed to go. Henry, with a large smile on his face, followed.

After the door shut, Sara looked at Jennifer and asked, “You think that’s funny don’t you?”

“Yeah, kind of,” she answered.

Sara shook her head and leaned up against a wall. “The least he could have done was leave us somewhere with some chairs.”

Inside the room, Gan had Henry sit in a large armchair. The room was little more than a large den. Very similar to other such rooms in the castle. Across from the chair in which Henry was sitting was a large fireplace. The walls were covered in animal furs, assorted tapestries, and adorned with animal heads and weapons.

“So what have you brought me to your private den to tell me?” Henry asked.

“I haven’t brought you here to tell you anything. I’ve brought you here to show you something.”

“Well, then, what have you brought me here to show me?”

“I’ll be right back,” Gan said, walking through the fireplace.

“It’s a good thing that wasn’t on,” Henry yelled after him, but Gan didn’t answer. He sat there for what seemed an eternity before Gan came back through the fireplace.

“You’re still awake,” Gan said with a smile. “Come.”

Henry got up and followed Gan into the fireplace. At the back, they took a sharp left and then a sharp right and, ultimately found themselves at the entrance to a large meeting room that appeared to be carved out of rock. At the far side of the room was a pool of dark water. On either side of the pool were doorways carved into the rock. In the middle of the room was a large table with chairs around it.

The room was empty.

“Great, you’ve brought me here to see an empty room. It’s a pretty room, mind you. I particularly like the pool, but I still don’t understand why I’m here,” Henry said, with a laugh.

Gan laughed, but said, “Sit, I’ll ask the others to come in now.”

As Henry sat, Gan went to one of the doorways and came back with the White Vampire. The other vampires followed behind at a respectable distance.

As he watched the procession of vampires come from the two doorways and take their seats, Henry’s jaw went slack in awe.



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