10 AM

“You need to understand, this was not an easy decision for him to make, Luna.”

Luna and The Rev sat in the library facing each other over a low coffee table. The female had her long legs tucked beneath her. The lanky vampire lounged on a low sofa, one arm draped along the back.

“The Weres are not bad people...the women and children...” Luna’s voice hitched. “I know Brian...he will not spare them...” She quivered on her words. The Rev bowed his head.

“That is true.”

“And, Richard...” She bit her bottom lip hard in an attempt to prevent sobs from escaping. “He...he will do something awful to my husband.” Burying her face in her hands, she began to shake uncontrollably. “I...I love him, Jimmy...I...I cannot lose him...” She peered over her hands at The Rev. “I do not think I can go on living if Richard is killed.”

The Rev just shook his head in answer, mouth set in a grim line.

“Do not think that your brother would allow you to throw your life away over a Were, Luna.”

The woman curled up more on the sofa, pressing a kerchief to her eyes, mopping up her tears.

“Damn it, Jimmy...”

He sighed gently and leaned forward, resting his forearms against his knees.

“I know.”

Luna took several deep breaths before rising to her feet.

“Do you mind if I go for a walk?”

The Reverend leaned back and sucked at a fang.

“This is your home, Luna. You do not need to ask me that.”

The woman shivered and shook her head.

“This has not been my home for decades, Jimmy...and...I have always felt like an outcast here.” She paused then smiled grimly.

“The only person who ever made me feel truly welcome here was our mother...but then my brother...”

She trembled, clenching her jaw and tilting her head back to prevent the tears that had formed to escape her control. The tall vampire just watched her, saying nothing. She sighed, brushing strands of hair from her face.

“Well...will...will you walk with me, Jimmy?”

The Rev smiled softly, standing.

“Sure. I will keep you company, if you like.”

“Thankyou...you’re a good friend...” Luna turned to head for the door. The tall vampire followed her out into the hallway. They both halted when they saw Matthew standing outside the library a decidedly grim expression on his face.

“Matt?” The Rev frowned. “Is there a problem?”

Luna looked anxiously at her brother. The master vampire pinched the bridge of his nose, glancing between them. Then he met his sister’s worried eyes.

“Luna, I need to speak with James, can you spare us a moment?”

Luna nodded, “Of course, Mattie. I am a little hungry...I think I will go to the kitchens and see what food there is...”

Matthew allowed a fleeting smile to pass across his lips.

“Zachary is in the kitchen. Get him to prepare something for you.”

Luna nodded then vanished. Matthew turned back to The Reverend, expression becoming weary.

“I have a problem.”

“What is that?”

“It is to do with Jonathan’s heritage.”

“Of course, he is a Halfling.”

Matthew twisted fingers in his short hair.

“You remember those papers by the Professor?”

The Rev nodded whilst picking at a fang.

“Yes.”

“Well, something I read there...worries me. I mean, I told Johnny that if he tried to escape I would kill him...except...” He paused, leaning back against the wall and worrying his bottom lip with his fangs. The older vampire new instinctively what his friend was anxious about. Having been around for many decades more than the master vampire, The Rev knew of all the truths behind the legends.

“Does he know that he’s a Halfling?”

Matthew frowned. “I am sure he would know that much, unless he does not realise that his mother is a vampire...and not a Were.”

The Rev nodded. “Either way, even if he did know, very few vampires know the truth behind the union of Were and vampire bloodlines.”

“So what would that mean?”

“That would mean that he need not know that he is immortal.”

Matthew pressed at his bottom lip with his fingertips.

“So, he is definitely...that?”

The taller vampire nodded once more, his usually grey eyes now a shining blue.

“Professor Montague believed that was the case. However, you need to remember he is younger than the both of us...and you are younger than me. So, neither of you know the full truth.”

Matthew scowled, “What is the full truth, James?”

The Reverend slowly began to pace, his features cast into shadow.

“Most Halflings die. That is the truth. The ones that live. Are immortal. There is no other way for a Halfling to survive.”

Mathew groaned. “So, that means my threat will come to nothing...”

“No.” The Rev shook his head. “The threat will still work. He is afraid of you, so at any rate he would not risk the pain involved with attempting to escape. However, you are misinterpreting the definition of immortality.”

The master vampire frowned sliding his shades down, his eyes showing his confusion.

“How so?”

The Rev leaned back against the wall folding his arms across his chest.

“Being immortal does not mean that one cannot die. It only means that one will not die of natural causes. As long as an immortal remains safe from harm...they will go on living forever. If an immortal is wounded, they will heal. However, if the heart of an immortal is removed...”

“Does that not turn them into zombies?”

“Let me finish, Matt...if an immortal’s heart is removed and burned...then they will die.” The Rev’s lips tightened. “And, they will stay dead.”

“Hell.”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

The two vampires fell silent and just stood in the corridor mulling over the words that had just passed between them. Sunlight filtered from the large windows inside the library, and the songs of birds echoed through the manor...

* * * * *

Johnny stretched his legs, flagging his tail slowly as he eased his way out of Matthew’s chambers. He sniffed at the scents drifting down the long corridor, nostrils twitching. Then he set off to the left, paws padding almost silently on the stone flooring. He knew that he had promised not to change; however, he gathered his master had meant not in front of the servants. He figured it would not matter so much if he had already gone wolf before stepping out of the rooms.

Trotting along he came to the main kitchen and peered around the heavy wooden doors. A tantalising aroma wafted toward his nostrils, but then he sniffed hard a confused emotion clouding his mind. An extremely familiar fragrance filtered through the other smells and caused his chest to tighten. He paced further into the kitchen and froze, his hackles rising in shock.

Mother?

Zachary and Luna both swung their heads around and saw the young Were standing near the doorway. Both their faces went pale.

“Hell...” Zachary stood holding two trays in his hands hesitating whilst trying to figure out what he should do. Luna gasped and held her hands to her mouth, eyes as wide as saucers.

“Johnny...” She glanced nervously behind him then took several steps toward him. He tightened the gap between them, also moving forward.

Mother...what are you doing here? Why are you here?

Luna shook her head hard and spoke rapidly, “I...I am not supposed to see you...he said...he said that...oh...my...Jonathan...you...you must...”

Her hands were shaking, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Johnny rumbled in his throat, head tilted to the left, tongue lolling between his canines.

Who said?

His mother shivered.

“He...” She gulped then stiffened staring over the Were’s head. Zachary bit his bottom lip also staring where she was. Johnny swung his body around and felt a chill.

Matthew leaned in the doorway, arms folded across his broad chest.

“Well, this is nice...” His upper lip pulled in a sneer. Luna held out her hands, trembling.

“Please...he just...”

The master vampire snarled.

“Vengeance, escort her to her rooms and make sure she remains there.”

Zachary dropped the trays onto the long bench and stepped up next to Luna, grasping her arm and vanishing her from the kitchens. Johnny yipped in distress.

Don’t hurt her...

Matthew laughed cruelly, “Oh, do not worry yourself, pup. Your mother will not be harmed...as long as she does as she is told.”

Johnny crouched low and bared his canines at the master vampire, questions flaring in his eyes. Matthew stared down at him arching an eyebrow.

“Yes, pup?”

What is my mother doing here, Shadows?

For a heartbeat the master vampire just stared at him as if he had to think for a moment then he sighed.

“She is a prisoner here...do not go looking for her. Do you understand?”

Johnny sank down on the floor so his belly was touching the cold cobbles.

Please...do not hurt her...

Matthew walked forward and crouched down at the Were’s level. Reaching down he wrapped a firm, yet gentle hand around his muzzle lifting it up so he could look into his deep brown eyes. He allowed his expression to soften somewhat before speaking softly.

“Listen to me. I will not harm your mother. I am not the monster you think I am.”

Johnny trembled and the master vampire saw wetness in the youngling’s eyes. He frowned and released his grip. The Werewolf whimpered softly nudging at his leg with the tip of his wet nose. Matthew tentatively scratched him between the ears. He rumbled softly in his throat then yipped softly.

She is not a Were, master...

Matthew stiffened, surprise in his eyes. Of course, Johnny did not realise that the shock was not due to the fact that his mother was not a Were. The master vampire already knew that. No, the shock was due to the fact that Johnny actually realised this truth.

“No?”

Johnny snuffled. She is one of your kind, master...a vampire...

Matthew continued to scratch behind his ears.

“Indeed.”

I do not know how that is, but...I...I am not a full-blooded Werewolf...

The master vampire nodded, removing his hand.

“Of course. Like you say, your mother is a vampire.” He stood and stared down at Johnny. “Any clue as to why one of my kind mated one of yours?”

The Were snorted.

They fell in love, Shadows...

Matthew grimaced. Love was not an emotion the master vampire was comfortable with, nor was it an emotion he was well acquainted with. He was too cold a creature to truly care, and he tried not to feel anything at all if he could help it.

Standing he looked down at Johnny, thoughts passing across his eyes. Now that mother and son had crossed paths, he knew he would have to prevent them from ever going near each other again. However, first he had to tell Johnny what he had set into motion earlier.

“There is something I need to tell you. And, I am hoping you will not react the same way your mother did.”

Johnny sat back on his haunches, head tilted to the side.

What is that, master?

Matthew’s tone hardened, his face becoming utterly impassive.

“I have ordered the destruction of your clan.”

Johnny’s whole body froze and then he gave a snarl of anger and launched his body at the master vampire, jaws opening, teeth bared as if he were going to attack him.

A split second later a searing pain jolted through his body and he was on the floor on his side a deep gash in his side. Matthew crouched over him a long bladed knife clasped in his right hand. Blood dripped from the black steel. Johnny whimpered in pain his body trembling. He hadn’t even seen the master vampire move to counter his attack.

No...no... His breath came in heaving gasps. No...not my family...

Matthew growled, “It was either that or allow Brian to kill you.”

Johnny groaned, tail twitching.

Better he kill me...better you kill me...now...I...I don’t want to live if my family cannot...

The master vampire stood and glared coldly down at his slave.

“You do not get to choose. You will die only when I say you will.”

Johnny whined and trembled giving a low growl as he started to change back into his human form. Matthew averted his gaze and then after several moments looked back. The young Were was curled with his arms wrapped around his torso, head bowed a soft sobbing surfacing from deep within.

The vampire gritted his teeth noting the wound in his side and, without a word, stepped forward and easily lifted the smaller male into his arms. Johnny shuddered but, inexplicably, instead of pulling away, he snuggled in closer to Matthew’s powerful frame, tucking his head into the master’s firm chest.

Grimacing, Matthew returned to his chambers and lay Johnny on his side on the large mattress on his bed. The youngling whimpered. The vampire stroked his hair lightly then walked over to the basin, grabbing a bowl and filling it with water. Then taking a cloth, he dipped it into the bowl of water and came back to gently wash the wound.

Johnny whined.

“What are you doing?”

“Have to clean it, pup. Just lie still. I will get Zachary to have a look at it when he returns.”

Johnny whined again, louder.

“You promise you won’t hurt her?”

Matthew’s jaw tightened as he focussed on washing the blood from around the wound. The Were lifted his head and nailed the master vampire with a desperate look.

“Please...promise me you won’t hurt her.”

“Pup...”

“Please, master...”

Matthew heaved a deep sigh and gave the youngling a stern look.

“Very well. I promise. But, only because you asked.” And because I would never harm my sister...

Johnny of course could no longer hear the master vampire’s thoughts so did not hear his silent declaration. He let his head lay back against the pillows on the bed and closed his eyes, relaxing beneath Matthew’s touch. The master vampire left the wet cloth over the open wound and stood, just allowing himself to watch as the Were slowly fell into a restful sleep.

Notes