0336: The Vampire’s Daughter, Book Four

0336
Sol, Meredeth, Gan, Carmalinda and Balinda's train pulled into the train yard late at night. All of them were awake and prepared to meet a less than enthusiastic welcome. However, much to their relief, no one was there to meet them.

“We must go to my father's castle first,” Meredeth said.

“Can you not call it your castle after all of these years?” Gan asked.

“No. It will always be my father's castle and all of you would do well to remember that while you are there.

“Although I have ruled this region since my father went to sleep, it still belongs to him. I have my loyal followers, but so does he. You saw that at your castle Gan,” she continued.

“So how do we get there?” Sol asked.

“It is a long distance yet, a car will take us. Gan, can you arrange for a car?” Meredith asked.

“Yes,” he answered before telling Car and Belinda to protect Meredith and Sol while he was arranging transportation.

Sol looked around, noting how cold it was. He turned to Meredith and asked, “You have changed your interactions with Gan. Since we stepped off of the train you have treated him as a servant, not an equal as he was on the train and at his castle.”

Meredith looked at Sol closely. Then said, “Remember we are in my father's territory. There are expectations on how I will act. I am the queen, I do not consort with those below my class.”

“Then you shouldn't be talking to me,” Sol responded.

“You are different,” she replied.

“I don't see it, but that's fine. You know there are none like us in the area, right?”

“Yes, Sol, I know that. But my father's reach goes beyond our kind.”

“So all of these years, however long that has been, you have lived in fear of your father. Or at least your father's henchmen,” Sol stated.


“Yes,” Meredith answered coldly.

“That must be horrible.”

“That is the life that most vampires live, Sol. You have not lived the life of most vampires. Your sire was an outcast, or at least a recluse. She did things her own way and was allowed to do so because of her sire. He protected her, or at least his reputation protected her.

“In a clan there is always someone out to get you. Someone who is watching you. In the short time you were in New York City's Tribunal you must have seen that?”

“Yes, but I guess I never let it bother me. I didn't really care to be doing what I was doing and my sire was the supposed head of the Tribunal, so I guess I, too, was protected.”

“You have lived an odd life, for our kind.”

“That he has,” Gan said from behind. “A car will be here shortly.

“I'm not quite sure what you two were discussing, but I remember the first time I met Sol. He was different. More confident in his decisions. It was the element that I hadn't expected. The one thing I wasn't prepared for.

“Most would not have engaged me and my men without prior permission. Especially in an organized army of sorts. Sol didn't wait for permission, he acted. Neither I nor my men were truly ready for battle. He lost a great many of his group before it was over. Many more than I, but he was resolute in his decision when others, again, would have paused and sought out more men or permission to continue.

“When I was the lone combatant left, he came after me himself. Letting the remnants of his force limp home. He beat me, but let me live. I was shocked at the time, but know now why that happened. But what it showed me was that you were not what you seemed.”

The car arrived, and Sol opened the door for the others. He added a “My Lady” when Meredith got into the car. Inside, she smiled at him and said to his mind, “You don't realize how unique you are.”

[The Vampire’s Daughter: An ongoing vampire story. Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. All rights reserved.]