0296: The Vampire's Daughter, Book Three

"Sam, now that you've joined the new Tribunal, you'll need to provide me with a selection of your best, and most loyal, warriors," Elizabeth said.

"I've lost a good chunk to Thomas' Enforcers and now you ask for me to send more away? What will I do for protection?" Sam asked, angrily, but respectfully.

"You're coven has been depleted to some degree, I can see that. But at present, I need to connect with others that are not as well situated geographically as you. To do that, and increase our size and strength, I need more troops.

"To give you some notion of what is going on here, Vein risked his entire coven to get to me and initiate this new Tribunal. If it is to work, and we are to retake the city in its entirety, similar risks will be required by all. I hope I have not misjudged your character," Elizabeth responded, placing a hand on Sam's leg.

"You have not, Madam President," Sam said. "I believe I can send a score or so with you and still adequately protect myself.

"We both know I am a low priority for Thomas right now. With any luck, we'll have strength in numbers before my importance increases enough for a direct attack."

"I promise you, Sam, that we will be a force in this fight," Elizabeth said to him with a smile.

"And if you are wrong?"

"God help us all. But I will die before I allow my sire to rule the New World," she said, standing and walking toward the door.

"Elizabeth," Sam yelled, causing her to turn. He stood and looked her in the eyes. "I've never been able to read minds, my coven's strengths are elsewhere, but I believe I am a good judge of character. I have never liked you, but, once I saw how you ruled, I grew to respect you. I feared Thomas and nothing more.

"You will have a score of my best fighters because I believe in you as a leader."

Elizabeth smiled and said, "You don't like me? I'm hurt." She winked and walked out the door, leaving with, "I'll need your men presently."

"You shall have them," Sam yelled after her, following far more softly with, "my queen."

One of his coven then walked up to him and asked, "Do you think this wise?"

"Ten minutes ago I would have said no. But now, I believe it is not only the only choice we have, but is the best chance of beating Thomas."

"How do you know she's not with him?"

"She is of his blood, that is certain. The boldness the defiance, that is from him. But there is more in her, more than just his blood. You could see that in the way she led the Tribunal.

"As I'm sure you recall, under Thomas we lived in constant fear. Under Elizabeth we lived in relative peace. I don't recall one instance where she abused her power."

"Save for Sabastian," the vampire responded.

"Yes, she abused her power to save Sabastian. The one vampire that she loves more than any other," Sam said. "But wasn't it you that disobeyed me to save your greatest love?"

"That was different, she was my child."

"Yes, and Sabastian is her child. I trust her and I respect her, perhaps I may even grow to like her," Sam said with a wry smile. "Go, select 20 of our best fighters, include yourself in that number, but leave your daughter. She is second in ability only to you, and I want her here for her safety and mine."

"Yes sire," the vampire said, walking off and yelling for specific vampires to join him.


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