0346: The Vampire's Daughter Book IV

The next evening Sol rose and went immediately to the library. The title of the book was “Becoming Queen.” He assumed it was the story of Meredith's assumption of power after her father chose to sleep. Yet, why would that upset her so? He didn't open the book and simply contemplated Meredith's reaction for a moment.

His thoughts varied widely, but what fascinated him most was that she would let him read it. He cracked the book open, to find that the pages had yet to be cut. Unlike the other books in the library, this one was hand bound. He looked around to find a knife and cut the pages. He hadn't needed to cut pages in so long that he was actually quite nervous. It heightened his anticipation and drew him even further into the story—and he hadn't read a word yet.

As he turned the pages, it started with a human king. The king ruled a small kingdom in northern Europe. It was obviously a brutal time that required a brutal king. The story ran through years of combat. Sol wondered when vampires would appear in the story, as it was written by and for vampires. Just as Sol was getting tired of reading about foreign invader after foreign invader, a new force entered the fray, a clan of vampires.

Just as before, the king fought. And he fought well, killing many of the vampires by sheer force of numbers. It was clear that the king understood what he was up against and prepared accordingly.

It was also clear that his counter attacks were keenly focused. They were planned to bring about some specific outcome, though the Keeper, in his frustrating way, would not reveal it before its time.

Sol found it odd that the king was never referred to as anything else. He was nameless, though it would be obvious to all who knew him who he was. His deeds were powerful, distinct. He continued with the story.

Eventually, the king had defeated the vampire clan. An act that impressed Sol greatly. The only vampire left was a relatively young vampire named Gri who the King had captured. Before he read further, Sol knew the story he was about to read and knew about whom he was reading.

As Sol expected, the king forced Gri to sire him, giving the king immortal life. It was a damn fool thing to do, since Gri knew little of the life a vampire must live. At first, the king attempted to hide what he had become. But it become more and more difficult.

When he could no longer hide it from his wife and daughter, who's name was quite expectedly Meredith, he explained his actions to both of them.

Meredith's mother rejected the king as a grotesque beast, an animal, and a freak while Meredith watched. Her father pleaded with his wife to understand, to see that he did it for them. That this would ensure their reign forever. That he had done this, taken the actions he chose, to protect them for all eternity. She wouldn't listen. She ran from him. Meredith remained. She knew how dangerous her father's anger could be and she saw in his eyes that her mother had drawn from him an anger deeper than any she had ever seen before.

Sol paused again. He was amazed at the detail that the Keeper was able to give of Meredith's thoughts and actions. It was like he was there with them, as if he saw how important she would be before she was important. Even the bland descriptions of her parents seemed to show that it was Meredith's story, not theirs. They were just actors in another person's life.




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