0306: The Vampire's Daughter, Book Three

"That is not the case, my Lady, not at all," said one of the vampires standing up. "I think, perhaps, our reluctance has nothing to do with you. I believe that we would be better able to communicate our feelings on this matter without Sol's presence."

"I see..." Meredith said, looking at Sol.

"Seeing that my life depends on the outcome of your decision, and I doubt that I'd be able to stop you from killing me, I think I would like to stay," Sol said, interrupting her.

"I see no reason why you shouldn't," Meredith replied.

"I protest, my Lady," a vampire said, "we are here to advise you and if you will not follow our advice, what purpose do we serve?"

"I have recently begun to ask myself that very same question," Meredith announced, with a hint of anger in her voice.

"My Lady," another vampire said, standing and slamming his hand down on the table. "I served your father for centuries. I have served you for just as long. Your father so trusted each of us that he asked us personally to sit on this council. He wanted us to ensure that no impostors were raised up beyond their cast. That peace was kept within the vampire community. We have performed our duties admirably.

"I do not understand how you can stand here and question our loyalty like this. It is insulting."

"You have been very loyal to my father," Meredith said. "In fact, I do not doubt your loyalty to my father. I doubt your loyalty to me."

"It is one and the same," the vampire responded.

"No it is not."

"How can you say that? If it is not one and the same, then you must not be loyal to the King," the same vampire said, causing some stir among the others.

"I am not loyal to my father, the King," Meredith stated coldly, looking her accuser in the eye. "I am loyal to the one true King, to God."

The room fell into a deep silence. Meredith looked down the table at each vampire in succession. One by one they averted their eyes. She then lifted her eyes to Gan, who nodded but kept eye contact. She smiled and then turned her attention to Sol.

Sol looked her in the eyes and nodded his head slightly, smirking.

She spoke to him with her mind, saying, "This will soon be over."

The vampires around the table began to look at each other again, but said nothing. Then, without warning, one jumped at Sol. Gan slipped in front of Sol and deflected the vampire. Car and Belinda proceeded to jump on him and, essentially, rip him apart.

Sol watched in shock, not moving his arms from the position he had put them in to catch the attacking vampire. Car and Belinda stood crouched on their victim's body like rabid animals waiting for the next attack. Gan stood in front of Sol, also waiting. The rest of Gan's men had spread out and were standing ready to fight.

But no attack came.

Meredith was standing with her hands on the table and a look of fury on her face. The other vampires were seemingly frozen in place, in various stages of movement. Some had fallen, still holding the pose they were in when they fell. It was like time had stopped for them.

"For many years I thought you were here to help me find the chosen one. But it is obvious now that you were not here for that purpose at all. You were all here, with the exception of Gan, to stop the chosen one with the hope of stopping the prophecies," Meredith said.

"I believe that my father should be disturbed," she continued. "I believe my father needs to see and hear Sol. And I believe that you should all die. Gan, if you would be so kind. I promise they won't put up a fight."


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