0337: The Vampire’s Daughter, Book Four

After a drive of several hours, filled with little meaningful discussion, they arrived at the gates to Meredith's palace. Sol looked out the window and said, “Wow, that's a huge house. It's beautiful.”

“That's the gate house,” Meredith replied with a smirk.

“No,” shot back Sol.

Pulling up, Gan lowered his window and spoke in Russian to a guard, telling him that he had the Queen with him, and that he was to open the gates and prepare the castle.

The guard looked into the car with an air of disbelief. But when he saw Meredith, his entire demeanor changed. Sol could both sense the guard's fear and visibly see it in his eyes. The guard quickly waved at another guard to open the gates and then ran off to the gate house.

Gan raised the window. Once it was shut, Sol said, “Wow, that was astonishing.”

“Why?” Meredith asked.

“He was terrified of you.”

“As he should be,” she said. “I hold the power to extinguish his life.”

“I have a hard time believing that you use that power recklessly.”

“I don't abuse that power, but I do use it,” she said. “My father used it more frequently than I, which has left a lasting impression on my subjects.”

“I assume by that you mean that he used it recklessly,” Sol said.

“Don't be impertinent. I will not allow you to disparage my father in any way, particularly here,” she said coldly.

Bowing as best he could in a car, Sol said, “I am sorry My Lady. I forgot myself. It was not an attempt to disparage your father, but one to highlight your generosity and kindness.”

Gan smirked. Car and Belinda just looked at him with eyes wide.

“My generosity will allow this transgression to pass without incidence,” she said out loud. To him personally she said, “That was well done. But remember that appearances are important now. You must also protect your mind at all times.”

“Yes, My Lady,” he replied out loud.

As the car pulled up to the castle, Sol let out a whistle. “This is incredible.”

“I'm glad you like it,” Meredith replied. “I will not be using my voice from here on. At least until I am confident of certain things.”

Gan was already out of the car and opening the door for Meredith. She stepped out and was immediately flanked by guards.

“There have been some unusual things happening My Lady,” one of the guards told her. “It seems that some of the kings and queens have disappeared. Mostly the older sects. The younger groups have set a blood hunt for some young vampire named Sol.”

Sol, who had just stepped out of the car looked at Meredith. She smiled at him and then introduced the guard and Sol with her mind, “General, this is Sol.”

Sol stuck his hand out, which the General did not take. He looked at Meredith and asked, “I do not understand. Is it wise to have him here?”

“I believe it is,” she said to both of their minds.

“Yes My Lady,” he said with a bow and took Sol's hand.

“We will need to fortify the estate,” she said to the General. “Although I do not believe there is any immediate threat, there is the potential for one. And I believe there will be a threat at some point in the near future. Please see that the castle is properly prepared. I have brought Gan with me as an advisor. You should consult him with your plans. However, he will be assigned to my personal guard. The girls will watch over Sol,” she announced.

“Shall we assign additional security to you My Lady?”

“No, Gan will be enough of an addition.”

“What about Sol?”

“I believe Car and Belinda are a generous enough force. Indeed, I am humbled by the offer as it stands,” Sol said.

Everyone looked at Sol. He knew he shouldn't have said anything, but couldn't help himself.

After a long pause, Meredith turned with a smile to the guard and said with her mind to all present, “Remember that Sol is not used to our customs, please allow him material leeway. He means us no harm and certainly does not intend to insult anyone by speaking out of turn.

“Now, show Sol and his guards to the safe room. I will be waiting for a more material update of affairs in my parlor.”

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