Chapter Nine

Birthdays…birthdays had become a rather curious celebration to Colin, since he had become a vampire. He still enjoyed them and anticipated them, because, after all, no matter how old he became, he never looked older than thirty-one! But that was just it - to never become older, except chronologically somehow, was the curiosity…was he really becoming older each year (he was turning forty-seven today), or was that just a fallacy now that he couldn't age? He sipped his bourbon and soda as he sat at the bar of the Saxon House Hotel, the best hotel in this little town of Salieri, Transylvania, waiting for Caleb and Katarina to join him. The threesome had spent Caleb's twenty-second birthday in London just last month, with drinks in Katarina's flat, then dinner and an evening at the theater. For his birthday, however, Colin had requested a quiet celebration. No need for a big fuss or travel to anywhere. He just wanted to be home with the ones he loved. He intended to meet them both here at the Hotel bar, have a few drinks, and then head home for a relaxing evening. What he really craved was a human kill - the thrill of it was gnawing at him as he saw them enter the bar. He'd not have to mention his desire to Katarina, though. Ever since their engagement shortly after Caleb's birthday, it was as if she could read his mind! She'd instinctively know that he craved a kill tonight, and, no doubt, she'd be more than willing to accompany him.

"Colin, darling! I hope we didn't keep you too long! Caleb and I were busy picking up your birthday present and the shopkeeper kept us dreadfully long…" Katarina's voice trailed off as she hugged and kissed Colin. "Happy birthday, father!" Caleb said joyfully, hugging Colin and shaking his hand. They all sat down and conversed for easily an hour or more. Then, Katarina took out a small box from her purse and laid it on the table. "Colin, this is the present that Caleb helped me select! I was going to wait and give it to you at home but I just can't wait that long! I hope you like it!" Colin undid the wrapping and opened the box.

A gold crested, monogrammed ring sat inside, glistening in the light filtering in from the bar's front window. "I want you to wear it on your right hand, because your left will soon bear our wedding band!" Katarina declared, smiling brightly. "It's the Morley crest with my initials engraved! How thoughtful, my love!" Colin exclaimed. "You know it's funny, the Morley crest is engraved on the silverware, the glassware, and even on some of the stained glass windows, not to mention the front door of the villa! But I never did receive a ring with the crest on it before this…my father was killed before he'd seen fit to give me one. Thank you! I will cherish it always!" Colin kissed Katarina. "And you, Caleb! You knew about this, eh?" Caleb blushed, smiling sheepishly. Yes, I helped her pick it out. We visited the jeweler several times just to make sure it was absolutely right, didn't we Katarina?" "Yes, we did, Caleb, and from the look on your father's face, I'd say we decided on the perfect gift!"

Back home at the villa, after a delightful dinner, the three sat together in the parlor, enjoying the warm fire. Caleb could wait no longer to tell his father his surprise. Katarina saw it in his eyes, and quickly mentioned to Colin "I believe your birthday would not be complete without a present from your only son! And I don't believe he has let you down, especially this year!" She gave Caleb a knowing smile, and Colin looked confused. Katarina quickly excused herself from the room, "I think I'll look for Jeremy - I want to ask him something", and she closed the door behind her. "Father, I'm not sure how to tell you this, so I guess I'll just show you!" Caleb stood up, tall and proud and bared his fangs.Colin sat in total astonishment! "Caleb! My boy! How on earth?… You've turned?" Caleb smiled broadly, "Yes, I've turned completely! I made my first human kill just a couple of nights ago! And I have Katarina to thank for it! I approached her in January, asking for her help to turn me in time for your birthday! There was no reason for me to want to wait any longer, father. The time was right! Frankly, I couldn't think of anything else better to give you!" Colin stood up and hugged his son, kissing his cheek. Tears began to pour down Colin's face. "Caleb, you've no idea how pleased this makes me…how close I feel to you now…our bond is superhuman - we'll never be apart!"

Just then, Jeremy and Katarina, both smiling, came into the room. Katarina carried a bottle of 1860 Rothschild champagne and Jeremy carried a tray with four glasses. "We're guilty as charged!" Katarina laughed. "Jeremy and I were listening on the other side of the door to know if it was safe to come in! Isn't this just the best news, Colin? Aren't you proud of Caleb?" "I couldn't be prouder!" Colin answered. "And Jeremy, you were in on this, too? My, you all sure know how to keep a secret!" "I was honored to be included, Master Colin! Master Caleb came to me early this month and let me in on the plan! I was more than happy to help in any way I could!" Jeremy poured the champagne and handed glasses all around. "A toast!" Colin said. "To my son, who makes me happier than I have a right to be - my fiancé, who gives me love beyond measure - and to my good friend and servant, who's family has stayed forever loyal in the past and I trust, will do so in the future…and to the very best birthday I could ever want!"

Several hours and three bottles of champagne later, the party was coming to an end. Katarina looked at Colin and said "I know what you need, Colin. But instead of going out with me, tonight, why not take your son and spend some quality time with him?" "Excellent idea, my love! Why, how much more special could my birthday be than for father and son to harvest together tonight?" Colin marveled. "Caleb, how about we go out and prowl the streets together for awhile…I feel the need to feed…how about you?" "I'm not that hungry, myself, father, but of course I'd love to accompany you! I'd consider it an honor! Let me get my coat and I'll meet you at the front door!" Caleb said.

"Be careful, Colin," Katarina said as she kissed him at the doorway. "I've a feeling the Koviches are out in force of late, and one never knows where they could be lurking tonight!" "Ah, but look at the snow outside, Katarina! Koviches won't be hunting tonight! They'd never expect any of us to be out in the wind and snow…I'm actually surprised I'm going! But I'll make sure we come back as soon as possible!" Caleb appeared in a long, black wool cloak. "Ready, father?" "Absolutely! Let's go, my son!" Katarina watched as they walked arm and arm down the path to their carriage.

An hour and a half later, the wind was howling and the snow was coming down heavier than ever. Colin hadn't found anyone out in such conditions and was just about ready to call it a night and try again tomorrow. "Father -- Look, there!" Caleb whispered. A drunken man in his late fifties was zigzagging his way down the street after leaving a bar. "Finally!" Colin said as he watched the man come closer. This is my chance! I'll take him as soon as he walks by this alley…"

Katarina was very nervous. She'd waited at the villa too long and could not shake this feeling of foreboding! She decided to make herself invisible and look for Colin and Caleb. If she found them, they'd never know she was nearby…but she could keep them safe and watch every move these two loves of her life made…just in case.

The drunken man kept walking…closer and closer, until Colin was ready to spring upon him from the alley's protective darkness. Just then, with Caleb standing right behind him, a gust of wind blew fresh snow against their faces, but there was something else - the "whoosh" of two silver arrows, flying free of their Kovich bows, aimed directly at the two vampires - father and son. "Nooooooooo!" screamed Katarina, who had just arrived not a minute before. She flew to their sides, throwing herself in front of their bodies, but she only made it as far as Caleb - the silver arrow meant for him struck her heart instead, and Colin's entered his chest, piercing his heart and killing him immediately. The Kovich Slayers, cursing the fact that they'd only had two silver arrows, ran as fast as they could, thrilled to have made such an impressive kill. Caleb was left, tears streaming down his face, kneeling and rocking back and forth on the ground with Katarina's head in his lap, his dead father lying beside him in the dirty, slushy snow. Caleb was trying to hear her last words amongst her shallow, labored breathing.

"The ring, Caleb…take…Colin's ring…wear it…always! Power…my magic is in it…use it well…" The breathing stopped, her piercing black eyes staring straight up at him. Suddenly, Caleb felt her young, limber body shrivel as he watched this vivacious vampire turn into a 150+ year-old woman!

He shuddered with disbelief and let out a loud howl, as he stood up, pulling the silver arrows out of each body and hurling them into the air. YOU HAD NO RIGHT! DAMN YOU, KOVICHES! YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS - NO ONE WILL EVER GET AWAY! I'LL HUNT YOU DOWN AND KILL YOU ALL TO AVENGE THESE DEATHS!

Then slowly, gingerly, he picked up his father and Katarina's lifeless bodies, carrying them carefully, one on top of the other, to the carriage, still waiting three blocks away.

Hours later, Caleb and Jeremy were finished digging two fresh graves behind the villa in the Morley family cemetery. Caleb didn't want to wait; it needed to be done now. The snow and wind had stopped, and the skies had cleared to reveal a beautiful, full moon. Just before they lowered Colin's casket into his grave, Caleb paused. "Wait! I just remembered, Jeremy! There's something I need to do." Caleb pried open the top of the casket, very tenderly removing the gold family crested ring that Colin had received not even 24 hours beforehand. Caleb slipped it on his right ring finger, its gold sheen glistening in the moonlight, for they still had about an hour before the sun would rise on a new day.

The weeks that followed were sad and lonesome, save for Jeremy, who proved to be a true, faithful friend to his Master, Caleb. He even accompanied Caleb to London, where they visited Katarina's flat, taking her jewelry, her priceless art collection, and the wedding dress she'd been planning to wear in just a few weeks, back to Transylvania with them.

"At least I'll have some of her things to remember her by," Caleb told Jeremy as they entered the foyer of the villa. "Maybe someday I'll be able to give these diamonds and sapphires and this dress to my own bride…someday…" Jeremy looked at Caleb, a slight smile forming on his face. "I've no doubt, Master Caleb, that Katarina will live forever in your heart along with your father's memory. And someday, you, too, will come to know the same kind of extraordinary love they shared." Caleb wrapped his arms around Jeremy in a strong embrace. "Thank you, Jeremy, for everything! I can't wait to plot my vengeance on the Kovich family! They will pay for what they've done! I'll never leave them alone - they'll have to deal with me for centuries!"

The End

This was written expressly for the enjoyment of my fellow Michael Easton/PC fans.
Click here for The Epilogue