Sloane…3 (there’s going to be more)

“So what you’re saying, is that war is about greed and getting rid of the competition.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” said Miles.  “The men who start the wars never fight.  They just send others to die, so they can get whatever it is that they want.”

“Why do people go, when they have to kill people they don’t even know, and have people they don’t know kill them?”

“Brain washing, conditioning, patriotism, lies, more lies.  Why do people raise their children to die for someone else’s greed?”

“So, war is stupid.”

“It’s insane, but during this time in history, war never stops.  There’s too much money involved and there’s never enough for people who are heartless and greedy.”

“Have you been in wars?” asked Sloane.

“A few.  But that was many, many years ago.”

“People shouldn’t listen to those who want to kill lots of other people,”  she said.

“No.  They shouldn’t,” agreed Miles.

“How old are you?”

“Very old.”

“You don’t look old.  I mean not too old.”

“Thank you.  I do try to keep up with the time in which I am existing.  Others hold to their old ways and don’t fit in with society.  They become recluses, or people that are looked upon as eccentric or just strange.”

She nodded.  “I think I’ve seen some of those people.”

He laughed.  “It’s possible.”

“I need to know who you are.  Why you rescued me and when I can kill the vampires who murdered my family.”

“All big questions.  But you deserve answers,” he said, looking at her.  “Do you want some ice cream, while I tell you what you want to know.”

“Yes, pease.  Chocolate and strawberry.”

A human servant placed a large dish of ice cream in front of her.  Sloane thanked her and dug in.

“A very long time ago, one of your mother’s relatives saved me from something that would have made my life impossible.”

“You mean you would have died?”

“In a way,” he said.  “You see, a vampire found me wounded on a battlefield and wanted to keep me as his human slave.  He would have fed from me, beaten and tortured me, and kept me, until he grew tired of me.  Some would say that would have been a fate worse than death and I’d have to agree.  He could give me to anyone he chose, for as long as he liked, until he wanted me to be returned.  I was a young man then.”

“That sounds horrible,” she said, scraping the bowl with her spoon.

“Indeed,” he agreed. “Your mother’s family were farmers, of a sort.  The woman was a seer.  She saw my fate and made her husband search for me in the forest.  I had escaped and he did what his wife asked, and found me.  They hid me, thanks to the spells his wife put on the house, and nursed me back to health.  I vowed to repay them anyway I could.  All the man asked of me, was that I watch over future generations of his family.  As I said, at the time I was still human, so there wouldn’t be generations to look after.  However, when I was turned, or reborn, as some say, I promised that as long as I walked the earth, I would protect his line, to the best of my ability.  So, that’s who I am and that’s how I knew your mother.  I watched over her from birth, as I did those who came before her.  I saw her change from a happy and loving woman to someone who was   tense, always looking over her shoulder, and afraid.  I accidentally bumped into her in a coffee shop and, using  a bit of persuasion, got her to sit down and tell me what was wrong.

Your mother was a beautiful person.  She said she was afraid that the wrong people found out what a powerful witch she was and she thought they may kidnap you, to make her work for them.  She was agitated and told me she that she spelled the house and you as well, but she felt death moving closer with each passing day.

Your father had taken a leave of absence from teaching at the college, to stay home and help protect you.  I had three of my men watching your house, from the day I had the conversation with your mother.  Unfortunately, the killers were minutes faster than my men, who were across the street. They broke into your house and murdered your mother and father.   They left you to die in the flames, as further punishment to your parents and to send a message to others who would refuse to join them.”

“What did she do to them, to make they hate her so much?”

“I don’t know.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

“You’re welcome.  I’m sorry I failed your family.  I’m sorry I failed you.”

“It’s okay.  Nobody’s perfect and you can make it up to me by helping me kill them now.”

“I see.”

“Once they are dead, your pledge to my ancient relative will be null and void.  As a member of this family, I grant you freedom from that promise.”

He smiled and looked away.  “That is very kind of you but I cannot accept your offer.  My pledge was until I died and I will not go back on my word.”

“Okay.  I guess I get that.”

“Really?”

“Sure.  Now, I have a deal for you.”

“Please explain.”

“If you help me kill the vampires who murdered my parents, in the next few days, you have my word and oath that I will stay with you, learn what you want me to learn and work for you until you either dismiss me or die.”

“That’s a very serious offer.”

“It is.  I’m willing to make a blood oath.  You know the thing where you cut your finger and press it against the other person’s finger, so the oath is unbreakable.”

“You’ve done this before?”

“With Billy, when I was seven.  We made a blood oath to attend the funerals of each other’s goldfish when they died.  As it happened  it didn’t take long to fulfill our oath.”

“I see,” he said, staring at her.  “If I tell you to kill someone will you do that?”

“I said I would do what you wished unless you want me to hurt animals or other living things.  I won’t do that.  I will kill people, if you tell me why.”

“Sloane, if you make this deal, you cannot break it.  It will be good until I let you go or I die.”

“I understand.”

“No.  I don’t think you are old enough to understand, but I accept, none the less.”

“Okay, now what.”

Marie came into the room with a hand full of papers.  “Sign here, here and here,” she said to Sloane.

“What’s this?”

“It’s the oath you both just made.”

“You were listening?”

“I recorded it.”

Sloane looked at Miles.  “I want it written that if you die the oath is null and void.”

“It’s already in there,” said Marie.

“Is he going to sign it too?”

“Of course I am,” said Miles, and there’s wording in there that you will be cared for, paid a substantial amount of money, for as long as you work for me.  All of your needs and wants will be met and you can live here as long as you like.”

“What about vacations?”

“We can discuss time off as needed.”

She signed and passed the papers to Miles, who immediately signed his name.

“I’m not really sure what I just did.  But I think my mother would have trusted you not to hurt me.”

“Nicely played,” he said.

“Thank you.”

***

Three days later the vampires who killed Sloane’s parents, were dead.  Burned to a crisp, mulched and their ashes spread by the wind. Devin helped her push the stake into their hearts and bellies.  Before she ended them, she looked each of them in the eyes and said, “This is for my mother and father.”

Devin told her she did a great job and that he was happy to know she was staying on.

She thanked him for killing the vampires and letting her help.

“Anytime,” he said. “How do you even know about vampires?” he asked.

“Oh, they’ve always been around our house, visiting and doing things.  I didn’t know they weren’t a part of everyone’s life until people started looking at me funny when I talked about them.  Once I realized that my house was different, I stopped talking about things.  I never said anything about the witches and were’s either.  Sometimes people wondered why there were so many gigantic dogs in our yard and around the house, but when they asked, I just said they were visiting.”

Devin smiled.  “You’re a pretty cool kid.”

“Thanks.  You’re not so bad yourself, for a grown-up.