The Grateful Boys
Page 35
Sebastian headed down the hall and around a corner. A handful of kids were walking by, paying no attention to the tall boy in the center of the hall, dressed entirely in black.
“Gregorious!” Sebastian said, greeting him enthusiastically. “What are you doing here?”
“Is it not obvious?” Gregorious asked.
“Here to see me?” Sebastian wondered.
“It is not often that I find myself upon the East Wing of Corpus. We have traditionally dwelled along the West Wing, whenever we find time to walk the halls in search of personalities. So, what I mean to say is… don’t get used to. Personally, I prefer my sleep at this time of day.”
“You just came to say hi?” Sebastian asked him.
“That’s all,” he winked. “That’s all.”
“I just wanted to say, Gregorious. I’m glad I have my friends back now.”
“So am I, Sebastian. Now – I’ll see you around.”
“Tonight? “Sebastian asked.
“Tonight it is,” Gregorious smirked.
“I’ve been looking forward to explore the grounds of Vampyr Manor a bit more,” Sebastian added.
“It’s final then,” Gregorious said with a slight bow before disappearing around a corner.
***
On Wednesday night, the dinner table at the Lane house consisted of Mason, Hailey, their mom, and her guest – Sheriff Zeddman, finally out of his sheriff’s outfit.
“This is truly a fine home you have here,” Zeddman said. “Perhaps the best in Corpus.”
Mel thanked him as they all began supper. Mason was making vague remarks about Hailey’s new boyfriend and the new car she now drove.
“Heck, I wish someone would gift me a new car,” Zeddman joked.
“Technically they did,” Mason laughed. “You got a whole fleet of police cars to choose from.”
The Sheriff high fived him, admitting that was quite true. They enjoyed a fine dinner with Mel announcing she would no longer be a waitress. She’d found work as a hospital secretary. To that, they toasted.
An hour later, there came a knock at the door. Hailey knew exactly who it was. Though she still enjoyed his window visits, they were no longer a necessity.
“Are you ready?” Percy asked her.
She nodded. “Mom, I’m leaving!” she yelled before exiting the house and shutting the front door behind her. “I get to drive tonight,” she said.
“I suppose you need the practice,” Percy said, his mouth turning upward into a smirk.
“And what happens next?” Hailey asked.
“The Order will send out a Judiciary. That’s a vampire who will investigate the killing of Jacobus. Of which I am taking full responsibility. When they realize how gravely he was in violation of canon law, I’ll be just fine. I’m not worried. But that’s not what you asked. You asked what’s next. This is—”
He pulled her closer. Joyous love effaced her as his mouth met hers – pulling her into a deep kiss. Her eyes closed upon his awe, her body relaxed and blossomed to the taste of cool lips. It was like every time he touched her. A kiss for the ages.
***
Thousands of miles away, nestled beyond forests in Eastern Europe, there lay caverns that were tens of centuries old. Hidden among the evergreen, outside of plain sight, their existed the earliest vampire civilization on earth. There it was. A palace of vampiric splendor located within the Balkan Peninsula. Past the torches within the center of the palace, hanging upon stone walls was a centuries old painting. It depicted a figure that looked identical to Hailey. In the painting were winged men bowing at her feet and a crown atop her head. Just below the painting was a small inscription. Lilith, Queen Mother of the Undead.
Copyright
Published by Clink Street Publishing 2019
Copyright © 2019
First edition.
The author asserts the moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior consent of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that with which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
ISBN:
978–1–913136–46–8 paperback
978–1–913136–47–5 ebook