0338: The Vampire’s Daughter, Book Four
In the parlor Meredith was informed of everything that she essentially already knew. There were nuances to the information, such as who had taken over in the absence of other clan leaders, a list of vampires once thought dead that had been sighted, and reports of decent in the ranks of the new kings and queens. None of this surprised her and none of it really mattered. All she cared about was awakening her father and introducing him to Sol. But that would have to wait until she had a better handle on who she could trust.
Sol, meanwhile, had been taken to an inner basement apartment. It was elegant and spacious. He spent the next several hours exploring both the rooms, their belongings and some of the books that filled the shelves of the book cases that lined the walls.
While his attention was focused on what appeared to be a historical account of a vampire war supposedly written by the Keeper, Meredeth asked, “Are you comfortable?”
Clearly shocked, Sol looked up and said, “Yes, uh, yes I am. Thank you My Lady.”
“You need not address me formally here. You can treat me as you wish.”
“Very well, My Lady,” he replied with a smile.
“I startled you,” Meredith said.
“Yes.”
“You were distracted.”
“Yes. This book, it says it was written by the Keeper.”
“It was.”
“Is he here?”
Meredith looked around the room. “No, I believe we are alone.”
“I guess that's why you're talking to me out loud, but you know that's not what I meant.”
Meredith laughed. “Do you want to know the truth about the Keeper?”
“Yes, yes I would. John Paul said that he could help me. That I should find him. And I would very much like to.”
“I wouldn't tell you if he were here,” she said. “No one would.”
“What?”
“Very few would know him anymore now. And those that do, respect him and what he does quite fully. His work, as you are reading, is both substantial and profound. He has seen and recorded things that I never would have considered important, but he has seen as pivotal. And he has, more often than not, proven correct.
“The book you are reading now, for example, an unremarkable battle on the surface. He's captured it in fine detail. What you'll find by the end, is that the key participants are all kings and queens today. They used that war to remove not just a formidable adversary, but also their own sire.”
Sol interrupted, “So all of the news they reported to their sire was false?”
“Not so much false as exaggerated. They didn't fabricate anything, that would have backfired. But they extended the truth just enough to bring about a war. One that would lead to the demise of their sire's enemy but at the cost of breaking covenants their sire thought another had already broken. They brought him to my court to judge the legality of the battle.
“They, as it were, brought their own sire to me on a silver platter and I rewarded them for this by giving them not just his territory but the territory of the defeated clan.”
“So they took advantage of you. Why did you let it happen if you knew?” Sol asked.
“But I didn't know. And I still do not, except that I do,” she said.
“But the Keeper knew and wrote it down.”
“Yes. The Keeper did know. And yes he wrote it down. And he saw that this was material, even when I did not. For these kings and queens have abused their powers. But I do not own the book you are reading.”
“What?”
“I've never seen that book and neither have you,” she said to Sol. “The Keeper does not provide his history to anyone. Unless he does. And if he does, you mustn't reveal it. He is known to a few, but they will guard his identity.”
“Then how does anyone find him?”
“They look.”
Sol felt as though Meredith was talking him in circles. “I...”
“If he wants you to find him, he will introduce himself. Do not give up. I believe he will want you to find him in time.”
“In time?” Sol asked, showing obvious impatience.
“We are vampires, time has little meaning to us. You are still too young to fully understand that.”
Reuben Gregg Brewer | V'sD Store | 5:29 PM
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