0342: The Vampire's Daughter Book IV

With few belongings to pack up, the pair were downstairs quite quickly. Mina wanted to leave through a back exit, so they quietly attempted to sneak out. As it turned out, however, the only rear exit led to an alley that emptied out the front. There was no way to escape the crowd without jumping from building to building, something she didn't wish to do with Susan in tow.

“Well, we're here,” Mina announced, looking around the corner of the alley. “We might as well head down the alley.”

“No,” Susan said plainly. “We should go back through the front.”

“Why? What difference does it make?”

“All of the difference to the people here to see you. They are expecting a princess, not a common alley cat,” Susan said simply.

Mina looked at her and asked, “Why should I put on a show for them?”

“Because they want one and this will go much better if you give them one.”

“And you know this for certain?”

“There is nothing certain,” Susan said, “at least not in the short term.”

Mina kept looking at her. “And if I don't do as you suggest?”

“You will,” Susan said, as she walked back toward the building. Mina shook her head and followed. She knew Susan was correct in what she said and almost hated to admit it, but had to.

Mina led the way into the lobby thinking that she might have to protect Susan. She was, however, greeted by bowing staff members placing flowers at her feet. She was taken aback and tentatively moved forward. When she moved by them, the people touched Susan. There was no attempt to hurt her, they simply wanted to touch her so that somehow a part of her might rub off on them.

At first Mina moved to block them, but Susan said to her with her mind, “No. It's OK. They don't mean me any harm.” Mina was shocked by Susan's ability to speak directly to her mind, but there was no time for discussing the issue.

The staff of five followed behind to the door, when Susan held Mina's hand to stop her from leaving. Mina turned to see Susan's smiling face. The little girl ran back to the owner's daughter. The owner told his daughter to kneel, but Susan lifted her up by the hands. Susan took an exotic flower from the floor, broke off the stem and put the flower in the little girl's hair.

She then picked up a rose, walked over to the owner and his wife. She took their hands and pricked each of their index fingers with a thorn. She put each of their hands in the other's mouth. In Chinese she told them, “Love is in your house.” She touched the woman's belly and told them, “It will be a boy, but you won't forget your Lotus Blossom.”

At that she walked back to Mina. Mina watched as the couple embraced each other. Mina could feel the happiness of the couple radiate throughout the room. The little girl ran over and joined in the hug.

“Can we go now?” Mina asked Susan.

Susan looked out the door and said, “Yes.”

As the pair walked out, the crowd parted. It was a small street, so the crowd appeared larger than it was, but it was still an impressive gathering. Again, flowers were laid at their feet and people touched Susan. When they came upon the first vampire, he stood in Mina's way. It was the vampire from the previous night, only this time he was alone.

“Mountain Princess,” he said bowing.

“That is an old name,” Mina replied.

“Does the age of a name matter?”

“Things change, in time,” she said.

“Yes,” he answered, looking at Susan, who had walked by Mina's side. “And sometimes the change is foretold.”

“I must admit that I do not know what you're talking about,” she told him.

“That has been obvious from the start or you wouldn't have been sneaking around. But perhaps that was best anyway.”

“Why are you so interested in the little girl?” She asked to a hushed crowd.




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