0285: The Vampire's Daughter, Book Three

Sol stopped telling his story for moment, and single red tear trickled down his face. Meredith watched it, using her finger to collect it before it fell from his cheek. She licked it and then put her arm around Sol.

"It's OK," she said out loud, causing Sol to look at her in amazement.

She pulled back from him, putting her hands over her mouth in shock. "I... I... haven't... spoken... in over a hundred of years," she said, as tears began to fall from her face. A hint of color reddened her cheeks.

"Do not stop, tell me more," she said to Sol.

"I didn't know John Paul was back," Sol started tentatively, "but when I went to his coven's house to find out information about the state of the city, he was there waiting for me. He told me that I was special, but I didn't believe him. Then his chosen successor killed him and I fled.

"It was almost as if he had to die for me to believe," Sol said, forgetting about Meredith. "Oh my God," he said. "He died for me!"

Sol fell to his knees, as Meredith, still reeling from the sudden restoration of her ability to speak, watched. "He died for me," he said quietly. "He died for me, so I would believe. He gave his life so that I would live mine the way God intended."

Meredith slid down and held Sol. "Do you believe?" she asked.

"I don't know what to believe," he answered.

"Then you must discover what you believe."

"That's what he told me. He told me that you would help," Sol said, looking Meredith in the eyes.

"I will," she answered, sensing that he longed for guidance. "I must meet with the others as soon as possible," she said, helping Sol to his feet. "You must stay with your concubine for now. You will be summoned when it is time."

Sol didn't answer, he simply followed her directions. As they stepped back into the castle, however, those directions switched from verbal to mental.

"My Lady," Henry and Gan said, as the pair entered the den in which the door to the meeting room and Sol's bedroom was hidden. Jamie, in a far corner playing chess with Carmalinda just looked over.

"You," she said to Jamie's mind, causing a wave of shock in Jamie. "Take Sol to your bedroom and stay with him."

"Yes," Jamie said, jumping up and taking Sol through the fireplace.

To Car, she said, "Get your sister and guard the door."

"Yes my Lady," Car said, jumping up and running like a child out of the den.

To Gan, she said, "Get the others now and assemble them for a meeting."

"Yes my Lady," he said calmly, with a smile on his face. He bowed to her, but never let his eyes leave hers. As he stood, she touched his face and nodded her head. He ran off through the fireplace.

She walked over to Henry, the only vampire left in the room, and put her hand on his face. She then asked, "Are you loyal?" But did so out loud.

"My God," Henry said. "My Lady, you are healed."

"Yes," she said. "But the others cannot know until I am ready to tell them."

"Of course my Lady."

"Are you loyal?" she asked again.

"Yes," he said, before bowing down in front of Meredith.

She lifted him up by his hand, and asked, "Are you loyal to me?"

Henry said nothing for a moment, looking Meredith in the eyes. "Yes," he answered after a long pause.

"Then go back to your troops and await me. I will tell you what to do when I need it done."

"My Lady," he said, leaving the room, unsure of what was next to come.


[The Vampire's Daughter: An ongoing vampire story. Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. All rights reserved.]