Book Three, Chapters 0291 to 0300

The Vampire's Daughter
Book Three

Chapters 0291 to 300
-----

0291

"The car is over here," Vein said, as he watched Sabastian walk by him and down the street. Sabastian stopped, turned, and looked at him for a few moments.

Vein could see that Sabastian was lost somewhere in his mind. It was as if he was in a world all his own. And after what he'd seen of this vampire in action, Vein assumed that none could truly understand what was going on inside him.

Vein walked over to Sabastian and, looking him in the eyes, said, "We must hurry back to the coven house if we are to beat the sunrise."

"I doubt it would matter," Sabastian said, but followed as Vein took his shoulder and led him to the car.

The trip started out silent, but Vein couldn't bear the quite and asked, "How long have you..." He didn't get a chance to complete his thought because Sabastian said, "The first time was after a fight with Elizabeth. She had created yet another vampire that should not have been made and I had to destroy him. It was something of an accident, really. Though now I am beginning to question that, perhaps it was something I wanted but did not realize."

"It's why you are so powerful, isn't it?" Vein asked.

"Yes, but with that power comes the burden."

"What is that?"

Sabastian was silent for a long time. "The pain of the innocent."

Vein didn't ask what that meant, preferring ignorance to knowledge. "Can you be destroyed?"

"We can all be destroyed."

"But fire and sunlight won't kill you?"

"I have never tested it, but I feel as though neither would harm me."

"What about the swords... How did you catch two swords without getting hurt at all?" Vein asked.

"I just did."

Vein nodded his head and let out a deep breath. He felt that he was safe with Sabastian, but knew that, at some point, that would change. The question flashed through his mind, "So when do I become the victim?" but he didn't say it.

"When your time here is up," Sabastian said out loud, causing Vein to turn and look at him.

Vein was shocked, as he had been shielding his thoughts as best he could. Which meant that Sabastian could read everything he thought-a scary thought in and of itself.

As they pulled up into a parking garage, Vein stepped out of the car, but Sabastian remained inside. Vein bent over and looked through the driver's side window and jerked his head at Sabastian, who kept looking out the front window. Vein knocked on the window, causing Sabastian to turn, and jerked his head again. Sabastian got out of the car.

As they walked back to the coven house, Vein thought to himself, "He can read my thoughts but can't figure out when it's time to get out of a car."

Sabastian, still walked, turned and looked at Vein. Vein turned to look at Sabastian, and saw that the vampire was almost looking through him. He knew Sabastian had heard what he thought, but what he made of it was a mystery.

They went inside the coven house to find Francis sitting on the living room couch with several female vampires sitting with him, all obviously teasing him. Francis was visibly nervous. "Leave him," Sabastian said to them. They all scurried from the room.

"I'll let you two talk," Vein said, noting the fear in Francis' eyes. He left the room and found one of his trusted aids. "Where is Elizabeth?"

"She has gone to meet with the other coven heads," the aid said.

"I hope she is both successful and quick. Sabastian is a time bomb and I don't wish the responsibility of watching over him any longer."


0292

In the living room, Sabastian sat down next to Francis. He said nothing at all, but simply sat.

"Sol said that I should give the note to you. I didn't intend for what happened. I tried."

"I know you did," Sabastian said. "Do you know where Sol is?"

"No."

"Was he safe the last time you saw him?"

"Yes."

"You are sure he did not have a young girl with him?"

"Yes. He was with another like you."

"I can see that by the wounds," Sabastian said. "They were not caused by Vein's coven, they are older then the length of your stay here-though not by much.

"Can you contact Sol if you needed to?"

"I don't know," Francis said, "but I could try."

"Try."

Francis stood up and walked over to a phone. "May I?" he asked.

"Yes," Vein said from across the way, "but put it on speaker." He had been watching for a short while.

Francis dialed a number and said, "Grandpa?"

"Yes son. Are you OK? You've been gone for months." the voice on the other end said.

"I'm, I'm fine."

"You aren't alone?"

"No."

"Who is with you?" his grandfather asked.

Francis looked at Sabastian and then Vein. Vein nodded his head at Sabastian. "I'm with Sabastian."

"You delivered the message?"

"Sort of, yes."

After a long silence, his grandfather asked, "Are you still human?"

"Yes, I think so."

"He is unharmed," Sabastian said. "But I need information and you seem to be the only link to it."

"I assume I am talking with Sabastian."

"Yes."

"I hope you appreciate that there is only so much I can tell you. I risk my life even talking to you now."

"Then I will make my request simple. Can you contact Sol?"

There was another long pause, then a slightly trembling voice said, "I do not know anyone by that name." Francis' eyes went wide, as did Vein's. Francis looked to the ground, but Vein looked at Sabastian to see his reaction.

"Sol said you were trustworthy, but I did not assume you would sacrifice your own blood in loyalty to him," Sabastian said. "Let me rephrase my request. Can you contact your employer?"

"I don't know," Francis' grandfather said plainly. "We haven't been in touch for some time. In fact, I haven't heard from my employer since Francis left for New York to find you."

"I would appreciate if you would try to contact your employer. Francis will remain here, with me, so that you can contact him with any news. He will then relay that information to me," Sabastian said.

"How will I contact Francis? As he is not calling from his cell phone, I assume you took that from him."

"I did not, but I will assure that he has a private means of communicating with you. Unless told other wise, assume that his phone will be promptly returned."

"If I am able to contact my employer, will you let Francis go?"

"That depends on what your employer has to tell me," Sabastian said, as he got up and walked out of the room. Vein watched Sabastian leave, looked at Francis and lifted his shoulders as if to say, "I don't know," before leaving the room, too.

Francis picked up the phone and said, "I'm so scared grandpa."


0293

"You have no idea of the magnitude of the situation," Francis' grandfather said.

"I'm sorry grandpa, I didn't know what else to do," Francis said into the phone, knowing that both Sol and his grandfather had told him that he would be killed if he admitted to knowing Sol.

"You've done nothing wrong, son," the voice on the other end of the phone replied. "It is Sol that has done something, or at least is accused of doing something. And he has brought ruin on our firm and family."

"What?"

"Shortly after you left for the US, our primary offices were mysteriously destroyed. I know for a fact that it was arson, but we did not report it as such."

"I don't understand," Francis said.

"Listen. After the fire, I left for a remote and hidden office that our family has kept for many years. That is where I am now. It proved fortunate that I left so soon, as many of our partners were killed or disappeared the night after the fire."

"My God."

"No, Francis, this is not the work of God. It is the work of devils. We work for a devil and he has brought the wrath of his kin down upon us. It has happened before, but not like this.

"As far as I know, you and I are all that is left of the firm."

"What?"

"The last time we spoke, it had already begun. I didn't wish to alarm you so I didn't say anything at the time. I was still able to hold together a skeleton staff then, but no longer. I have computers, I have communications, but I have nothing else. And Sol has disappeared."

"He's abandoned us?" Francis asked.

"No. I don't believe that. It isn't his way. He is either dead or not in a position to contact me. Either way, though, we are on our own," Francis' grandfather said flatly.

"What should we do?"

"I will remain here and you will remain where you are.

"If Sabastian was important enough to Sol that he sent you to contact him, I believe you are safer with him than with me. And if Sol does need our family's assistance, one of us needs to remain alive.

"Let them think they are holding you against your will. That will give them reason to keep you alive. As it stands, I doubt that I'll be able to contact Sol anytime soon."

"Yes Grandpa," Francis said. "I love you."

"I love you, too, son. Be safe and call me as soon as you have a private means."

"I will," Francis said, and hung up the phone. He moved to the couch, put his head in his hands and started to cry.

After a few moments, something fell on the cushion next to him, causing him to look up. It was Vein.

"There's your phone," Vein said. "Sabastian didn't tell me to give it back, but I assume he'd want me to."

"Thank you," Francis said.

"I don't know what your conversation was about, but for your sake, I hope Sol can be contacted rather quickly. From what I've seen, Sabastian isn't a vampire to trifle with.

"As long as he says you're safe, you'll be safe," Vein continued, "but the second he wants you dead." Vein walked away.

Francis called his grandfather back from his phone to tell him that it had been returned. "What do you know about Sabastian?" Francis asked.

"He's frighteningly powerful, don't cross him. We'll talk soon," his grandfather said and then hung up.


0294

After Elizabeth had made up her mind to take on Thomas, she got ready for her meetings with the other covens. She put on her best skintight leather outfit, brought over for her by Vein's people, ensuring that ample cleavage was shown, and applied deep red lipstick.

"I wish Sabastian were here to tell me how good I look," she said out loud. Sighing, she added, "Even Sol's disinterest in my looks would be a small blessing right now."

She primped her hair, took one last look in the mirror, and walked out into the hallway. She told several vampires that they would be escorting her to a meeting.

The vampires, looked at each other, before one asked, sarcastically and with a great deal of attitude, "And why should we do anything you tell us?"

Elizabeth looked at him for a moment before walking up to him. He stood defiant, before his eyes went wide in a mix of surprise and pain. He slumped to the ground, leaving Elizabeth holding his heart in her bloody hand. "I am the head of this coven and I will be obeyed," she said, tossing his heart on top of his dead body. The other vampires looked on in shock.

Elizabeth looked at them and asked, "Am I understood?"

"Yes, my lady," the two other vampires said quickly before slightly bowing.

Elizabeth looked down at her bloody hand and the blood that she had gotten all over her outfit. "How does Sabastian do this without getting any blood on himself," she thought before saying, "Well, this outfit is ruined, but I expect there to be more bloodshed before the night is through, so I don't think I'll bother changing. Someone get me a towel so I can wipe off my hand."

A towel was produced and she left with a small group of vampires in tow.

Elizabeth walked North. She reasoned that she would start in the upper areas of Manhattan, an area where Thomas wouldn't likely have attempted to gain control. As she entered Harlem, a small group of vampires begin following her band, but at a distance.

A few block later she stopped, looked down with obvious frustration, and said, "How about you run ahead and tell Sam I'm here to see him."

"How about you suck my dick," was the reply.

Still looking down, Elizabeth said, "You are certainly a brazen one when there's a hundred yards between us. Why not come over here and cop that attitude to my face. You can bring your friends, if that makes you feel safer."

The vampire and those with him, walked slowly toward Elizabeth and her group. Elizabeth said, "Don't fight unless you have to. I'll take care of this."

The vampire that Elizabeth challenged walked right up to her and, standing in front of her, said, "Why don't you suck my dick?"

Elizabeth was still looking at the ground, her hair hiding her face. "Why don't you be a good lap dog and do what you're told before I have to rub your face in your own shit to teach you a lesson?"

The vampire moved to hit Elizabeth, but she reached up and grabbed his arm. The others could see he was struggling to move his arm, but that she was obviously overpowering him. She forced him to kneel in front of her.

From the lower angle, he could see that his opponent was Elizabeth, the former president of the Tribunal. He could also see the blood that covered the front of her outfit. He stopped fighting her and looked up at her face. Elizabeth, however, was still looking at the ground.

After a few seconds, she said, "I'm in no mood to play, boy. Why don't you go tell your sire I'm here to see him?"

He nodded his head, which prompted Elizabeth to let his arm go. He stood up and ran.

"Let's go," Elizabeth said, walking on. The vampires continued to trail behind, but at a greater distance than before.


0295

Outside what appeared to be a housing project, a small band of vampires were sitting on the steps. One of them was the vampire that Elizabeth had dispatched to his sire.

"Well, well, to what do I owe this pleasure Madam President," a youngish looking vampire said. "Oh, wait, you aren't President anymore because the Tribunal fell and your sire is running around killing off its former constituents."

"Hello Sam," Elizabeth said. "Let's get a few things straight right now."

"Let's," Sam said, standing up and waving his arm, which resulted in a flood of vampires into the area and surrounding Elizabeth and the small group of vampires she had brought with her. "For one, you have no authority here and I'll kill you if I so choose."

Elizabeth smiled. "For one," she responded, "your sad little show of force doesn't frighten me in the slightest bit." She looked him right in the eye and laughed. "If you want to go down this road, I promise you that you will die tonight."

Sam stood looking at her for a little bit before he snapped his fingers and his coven backed off. Elizabeth nodded to him as a gesture of thanks.

"Second, I'm not here on behalf of Thomas. But I think you already knew that."

"I did," Sam said. "But why are you here?"

"You won't be able to defeat Thomas alone," Elizabeth said. "He'll slowly defeat the covens below you and then, when it's your turn, he'll destroy you or subjugate you like the others."

Sam didn't respond, but knew that what Elizabeth said was true.

"I offer you an alternative to that."

"To be destroyed or subjugated by you?" Sam asked.

"No. I want to recreate the Tribunal, but in my image this time."

Sam looked at her for a long time, then said, "Let's talk inside."

He turned and walked into the building, Elizabeth followed. She held a hand up, letting those with her know they weren't welcome to join.

Inside, Sam and Elizabeth walked into an elevator and went to the basement. In the basement, Sam walked over to a corner that was outfitted with what looked like a living room. He sat down in an arm chair. "Talk."

Elizabeth sat down in the couch, leaning forward to expose her chest, and said, "I was used by my Sire for the last time. I'm going to take this city from him and I need your help."

"Sounds more like you want to be King of New York."

"You've seen me in action," she replied. "Do I want to be the King or peace keeper?"

"If history is a guide, the latter. Which is the only reason why I'm listening to you." After a pause, he asked, "What happened to your outfit?"

"Vein gave me his coven. Some of his coven didn't like the idea. I had to make a point."

"Now that's a new side to the peace keeper," Sam responded.

"I'm a little more resolved to lead this time around," Elizabeth said with a wry smile.

"So how does this work?"

"We shake hands on the idea and I call you when I've contacted a few more covens."

"I'll be one of the two that are chosen to rule along side you," Sam said in a matter of fact tone.

"You'll be one of the four covens that rules with me as the deciding fifth vote, but only so long as yours are one of the four strongest covens."

"So, you will be King."

"No, I'll be Queen and peace keeper," Elizabeth said, extending her hand.

Sam took hold of her hand and said, "You realize I have little choice in this."

"That's not true, you could be ruled by a merciless King or by a benevolent Queen who believes her subjects have a right to govern their own affairs so long as the rule is just to all."

Letting go of her hand, Sam looked directly at her and said, "I'm staking my coven on that."

Elizabeth smiled and said, "I won't let you down."


0296

"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.


0297

Elizabeth was sitting on a car when the vampires came out. She stood and walked over to the leader and looked him in the eyes. Touching his face, she said, "Sam is a good man. Trust him."

"I do," the vampire said.

Elizabeth smiled and said, "Your daughter, she remains behind? I thought I was getting the best fighters."

A little shocked, the vampire stammered, "That was Sam's decision, not mine."

"I would have made the same decision. Do you think he made that choice for himself?"

"Well, yes. She is the best fighter after myself," the vampire said. "We need to protect the coven, too."

"Ah, but then why give up his best fighter? No, I suspect he had other reasons. Perhaps he realized that his best fighter would rather go into a battle that seemed like certain death then send his daughter in his place." She touched the vampire's face, smiled, and walked away, saying, "Follow me! We will visit the Herman clan next. They are in the center of the fight right now. We can help them and put a stop to Thomas' advance while we grow our forces."

"Yes my lady," the group shouted, as she led the way back downtown.

About halfway there, however, she stopped. "We are in Trivoltcha territory, are we not?"

A vampire from Vein's clan ran up, "Yes, yes we are."

"Is that butch Jillian still alive?"

"I believe so, we haven't heard otherwise."

"Let's pause here a moment, I would like to visit an old friend. This way."

They traveled east until they found an old restaurant in the basement of a large office building. "I'll go in alone, but be ready in case I need help."

The vampires with her looked at each other and shrugged, as she walked into the eatery.

Elizabeth calmly walked inside and closed the door behind her. The entire coven was standing, ready to fight. "Hello," she said, in a kind tone.

"How dare Thomas send his bitch here!" one of the vampire's yelled out, causing an roar of support, but no action.

Suddenly, the word "Silence!" came loud and clear from the back of the room.

Elizabeth looked at the back of the room, and said, "They are like lap dogs, all bark no bite."

"If you'd like some to bite, I can arrange for that," the female vampire said. She was tall and slender, and dressed in a man's suit. Her long blond hair was pulled to the sides in pigtails.

"Oh, I bet you can," Elizabeth said.

"Are you here to fight or talk?"

"I left my men outside, Jillian, what do you think?"

"Come into my office," Jillian said.

Elizabeth walked through the group, which parted as she went. Almost to the door, she stopped and grabbed one vampire by the neck, lifting him high above her. The other vampires shifted closer, but did nothing but watch. Jillian stood silently.

"If you have the audacity to insult a woman, I highly recommend you have the balls to follow up your comments," Elizabeth said to him, before throwing him across the room. "I am no one's bitch," she said after he hit the opposite wall and fell to the ground. "Remember that before you open your mouth again, because the next time you say something to offend me, I'll kill you."

Elizabeth continued on her way, and followed Jillian into her office. Inside there were four other women in suits, who were told to leave. Each one looked at Elizabeth with scorn as they left.

Once the room was empty, Jillian walked over the put her hand behind Elizabeth's neck, pulling her to her for a passionate kiss. Pulling away, she bit Elizabeth's lip.

Putting her hand to her lip, Elizabeth said, "It's nice to see you again, too, Jillian."


0298

"Are you still playing around with the weaker sex?" Jillian asked.

"I play with whom I please," Elizabeth answered, sitting down in the leather chair opposite Jillian's desk.

Jillian walked to the desk and sat behind it. "Why are you here? Last I heard Thomas had locked you up with the threat that he would kill you."

"Well, let's say that things have materially changed in the last day or so," Elizabeth said.

"And how so?"

"Vein and his clan rescued me and pledged their allegiance to me. I've taken on their clan as my own."

"That is an interesting twist."

"How does your sire feel about this?"

"Based on the battle," Elizabeth said, "I don't think he was too happy. But we defeated him and, now, I'm looking to create a new Tribunal to oppose him."

"That's suicide. If not for those who join you, then at least for you."

"Thomas has used me one too many times. I could have handled the Tribunal affair, but not what he did to me afterward. It is time for me to confront him and kill him."

Looking down, Jillian said, "Yes, he can be brutal. But do you believe you can beat him with one coven? I'm sure he didn't bring all his strength to bear if Vein's middling group were able to defeat him."

"There were extenuating circumstances," Elizabeth said. "However, I've spoken to good old Sam. He's joined the cause, too."

"Sam hates you."

"Yes, but he respects me and fears Thomas. Much the same situation as your coven, I suspect."

"No, not at all alike. My coven hates you, but respected your leadership. I love you and wish you'd give up this heterosexual front you insist on hiding behind."

Elizabeth laughed, then said, "You know very well that I don't judge a person by their gender, but by what is inside." She got up and walked around the desk, sitting on Jillian's lap.

"This is a diversion for you," Jillian said, kissing her again. "What do you really want?"

Leaning in and biting Jillian's lip hard enough to draw blood, Elizabeth said, "I am resolved to defeat Thomas. I need support. I know we've had personal issues, but let's put that aside. Join me."

"You wouldn't be here if I held a grudge," Jillian said, caressing Elizabeth's body.

"Good, then you'll join the new Tribunal?"

"No, I'll have no part of it. But I will follow you and abide by the rules that you promulgate, should you defeat Thomas."

"Will you provide support?" Elizabeth asked.

"You can have your pick of my men."

"Uh, you're giving me your weakest fighters?" Elizabeth asked.

"For now," Jillian said. "I need my best to protect my eastern border. It seems in the mess that the fall of the Tribunal, the Old Tribunal, left behind, that idiot Marcus thinks he can take over my territory. I won't have that."

"I'll talk to him."

"Marcus hates you, and I'm not sure that he respects you all that much, either."

"Then I'll teach him to respect his elders," Elizabeth said, getting up.

"In that case, you can take some of my girls, too," Jillian said, following Elizabeth to the office door.

Standing in the open doorway, Elizabeth kissed Jillian, who was, obviously, displeased with the public display. Jillian shook her head, then, to her coven, yelled out fifteen names, five female and ten male. She told them to go with Elizabeth.

Outside, with the now large group, she said, "Next stop, East side and Marcus Emielius' place." She trooped on with a smile, recollecting some of the previous times she had "negotiated" with Jillian. Jillian watched the group from the restaurant window as they walked down the street, reminiscing about the same thing.


0299

At the border between Jillian and Emielius' territory, Elizabeth found a group from each side sitting on either side of Second Avenue. She looked at each group as they both looked at her and the band of vampires she had brought along.

One vampire from the East side went running off, while the others stood up. There were five still there, as Elizabeth walked up to what amounted to boarder guards.

"Well, if it isn't, oh, what's your name again little girl?" one of the vampires from Emielius' clan asked sarcastically.

Elizabeth smiled, looked to the floor and then put her fist through the vampire's head. She moved so quickly that no one even realized what had happened, they all just stood stunned.

With her arm still through vampire's head, she said, "Kill them all."

There was a minor struggle, but within a few minutes, the four vampires were dead. During the struggle, one of Jillian's vampires ran off.

Wiping the remains of the vampire off of her arm, Elizabeth said, "Forget the amount of effort it takes and the pain, I'll never understand how Sabastian manages to do this without getting filthy in the process."

As she finished the sentence, a band of about thirty or so vampires came up. "Ah, Marcus Emielius," Elizabeth said. "A pleasure to see you again. Wait, no, that's a lie. I'm not at all happy to see you. As I recall, you were one of the loudest voices in my opposition the entire time I ran the Tribunal."

"Yes and today we see that I was correct in my fear that you would be an utter and abject failure," Marcus Emielius responded.

"Oh, I can see where you might get that impression. But I assure you, I am about to set things right," she responded.

"And how is that to happen? Are you planning on defeating your sire? With this rag tag band of misfits?"

"This is just the start," she said.

"You don't believe I'm about to join this quixotic crusade, do you?" he asked.

"No, no I don't," said Elizabeth.

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I need Jillian's help."

"What do I have to do with that?" Marcus Emielius asked.

"It's very simple Marcus. You see, you seem to be encroaching on her territory. I need to stop you to get her help," Elizabeth said with a broad smile.

"You won't find me so easy to dispatch as that boy," he said, pointing to the vampire who's face had been punched through.

"I doubt that," Elizabeth said, her smile fading away.

Marcus looked sternly at her, and said, "Then let's do this."

"Not without me," Jillian yelled from behind the crowd, as she and the rest of her coven ran up to join the fight.

At that, sirens erupted nearby.

"Police," Marcus said. "We can't involve the humans."

"No," Elizabeth said. "Claim your dead and we'll finish this tomorrow evening. Unless, of course, you come to your senses."

"I'll kill you tomorrow."

The two groups scattered, with Jillian and Elizabeth walking together. "I assume I can count on you for shelter through the day?" Elizabeth asked.

"Certainly, but I'm not sure that I have enough room for everyone. You might have to suffer and share a bed with me."

"I'm sure I can handle such an inconvenience, after all, it is for the greater good," Elizabeth answered.

Back at Jillian's restaurant, the vampires spent the next hour talking and dancing. Then, just before dawn, Elizabeth shot up from Jillian's lap and yelled, "Get ready to fight!"

Everyone stood and within moments, firebombs came through the windows.

"Out through the front!" she screamed, "We take them head on."

She led the way and all followed.


0300

As Elizabeth's crew launched themselves through the fire up onto the street, they met Marcus Emielius' entire coven.

Emielius' men went after Elizabeth first. She deftly launched several attackers into cars, but the onslaught of vampires was too much for her to keep up with and they soon had her surrounded and woefully outnumbered.

"Protect Elizabeth!" was the rallying cry from Jillian, and all listened. Soon the fighting spread out and Elizabeth was behind a protective barrier of vampires-made up equally of each of the clans that had agreed to back her. She smiled, knowing that this show of solidarity had deep meaning.

Her pleasure didn't last long, however, as she knew she had to end this battle quickly. Scanning the crowd, she spied Marcus Emielius standing behind a car at a safe distance from the fight. Elizabeth crouched down and launched herself over her wall of safety and, with two more bounds, landed on the roof of the car directly in front of Marcus.

"Let's end this," she said, as Marcus Emielius's followers nearest to him began to rush at Elizabeth.

Still stunned, Marcus didn't move or say anything, giving Elizabeth time to jump up out of the way as Marcus Emielius' men jumped on the car, and land behind Marcus. She shoved her hand through his chest, pulling his heart out the other side.

He slumped on her arm, as she yelled out, "This is over, join me or die!"

Marcus Emielius' men stopped fighting and just watched as their sire's dead body slid from Elizabeth's arm. Elizabeth's followers were running to her aid, however, and had surrounded all of Marcus Emielius' men.

"Decide!" she yelled.

No one responded, they all just stood there in shock.

"Kill them," she said, causing her warriors to rip Marcus Emielius' men apart. "Make sure they aren't found."

Jillian ran up to her and said, "There isn't much time before the dawn, follow me." Elizabeth didn't argue.

In one of Jillian's many coven houses, they quickly recounted the events and tallied everyone up. There were five lost, most from Jillian's clan.

"I have no complaints," Jillian said to Elizabeth before the two settled to sleep. "But I will be sure that all in the city know of what happened. I have already given orders to spread news of your rebirth to all free covens. They will learn of your bravery and that I have decided to join the Tribunal."

Elizabeth looked at Jillian and smiled. "Thank you," she said, kissing the vampire.

"I fear we won't have much time for these trysts for a long while," Jillian responded.

"Ah, but as the head of my elite guard I think we'll have more contact than you might expect," Elizabeth said, laying her head on Jillian's chest and dozing off.

Looking at Elizabeth, Jillian thought, "How did this happen? Just months ago there was peace, then, overnight, war. Now, I see a glimmer of hope for peace again."

The next night, Elizabeth walked into her coven house to cheers. "We've already heard," Vein announced to her. "Four covens in the new Tribunal and the destruction of Marcus Emielius! A resounding victory if ever there was one."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said, with Jillian close behind. "I want you to meet the head of my elite guard, Jillian."

"Jillian," Vein said, bowing, "I find that my former enemies are now my closest allies. It will be an honor to serve with you."

"Thank you Vein," Jillian said.

"No Vein, you won't be working with Jillian at all. You have greater responsibilities," Elizabeth said, looking past him at Sabastian, who was standing at the far end of the living room watching the commotion.

Jillian and Vein looked at Sabastian just as he turned to walk away.



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