Chapter Seven


Caleb set his pen down, licked the envelope, and put it in his breast pocket. He'd just finished writing his father for the last time before graduation. It was May, 1888, and he was twenty-one years old, having grown into a breathtakingly handsome, somewhat egotistical, extremely eligible bachelor. After his mother's death, Caleb had gone on to two different boarding schools, and then to Oxford University. An excellent student, he was graduating one year early, with a degree in Business & Economics, making his father extremely proud. Caleb wanted to return home, join his father in the family business, and live in the family villa - it meant a lot to him and to Colin. After all, they only had each other, although his father had hinted lately that there was a special "someone" he had yet to tell Caleb about. He figured it was about time his father had a lady in his life. And Caleb knew all about women - well, at least he was learning - because frankly, thanks to his good looks, charm, and sexual prowess in bed, the ladies wouldn't leave him alone. He relished every minute of it, usually courting two or three women at one time.

Life was good, and his mother's death was now a painful, but distant memory. He still had nightmares about her every once in awhile, and Michael sometimes haunted his dreams, lecturing him about his sexual indiscretions, but overall, Caleb was doing just fine.

Aunt Rosalind still wrote occasionally. She and Uncle Charles now had three daughters, but Caleb had never met them. Somehow, with his mother gone, Caleb wanted no part of her family, save for the infrequent correspondence. It was all just too painful, and Caleb wasn't into pain. He was into fun.

He and his father had grown very close, despite the physical distance between them. They exchanged letters on a weekly basis, and Colin visited every time his business travels took him to London, which was often. The two had dinner together at all the best restaurants in the City, and were known by every maitre'd. Colin had learned to believe, and so he taught Caleb, that aside from power and wealth, the pursuit of pleasure and romantic love were the most important things in life. And though Caleb didn't know it yet, Colin intended to teach him about some other things, because it was time, and Caleb was ready.

Katarina and Colin lay naked, side by side in the huge canopied bed in Katarina's London flat. They had just made love together after each had made a human kill, and their adrenaline, not to mention their blood, was flowing! Katarina had fallen in love with Colin even before she turned him, having observed his every move for years. She knew she wanted to possess him for eternity, and of course, whatever she wanted, she got. It was so easy to make him fall in love with her, especially after his wife died. Causing that death, though, hadn't been so easy, but it had been well worth the trouble. Her dabbling in witchcraft certainly paid off. Colin would never know the truth, and she had no reason to tell him. It was just much better with the wife out of the way. Angela really had muddled the picture for way too long! Katarina had Colin all to herself, and she was very pleased. But was it wise to do what Colin had just proposed?

"Katarina, now that Caleb is coming home for good, I think it's necessary he know the truth about me…and eventually, about us." Colin had said. "We are so close emotionally, and in my heart, I know that I cannot keep this secret from him any longer. He's an adult, and he craves the pleasures of this world! His desire for power, wealth, and love is even more intense than mine! I have taught him well and I truly believe he won't spurn me for being a vampire - quite the opposite, actually. I'm convinced that he'll want to be like me. But he should decide for himself about when and if he does turn. And, he may not want to wait until he's thirty-one… In any event, I think the reason for this family curse is a bit dated, don't you?"

Katarina got defensive. "You understand why I inflicted the curse upon the Morleys, Colin. There was a very good reason in the beginning. But you do have a point. It seems that circumstances are such that the curse is no longer warranted. I enjoyed my revenge. Your grandfather was a fool. A sweet, lovable, fool, who passed up the chance of a lifetime - quite literally - to love and live with me for all eternity! But you, my darling, have embraced this opportunity! You are happy, aren't you, Colin?" "Ecstatic, my love!" Colin answered, as he slowly traced his forefinger down the side of her neck, lazily continuing until he stopped between her firm, round breasts. "So you agree with me, then? I shall tell Caleb my entire story and invite him to join me - join us - in our - how shall I put it? Alternative lifestyle?" He smiled, knowingly, at her and she kissed him passionately. "Consider the curse null and void. We'll let Caleb make his own decision, my sweet. When do you plan to tell him everything?" she asked. "I'll do it as soon as he comes home. Why wait? His first night back, we'll have dinner and drinks - lots of drinks - just the two of us, and we'll…talk." "Katarina threw her head back, laughing. "Oh, to be a fly on the wall during that conversation! I can't wait to hear all about it!" But Colin was too busy to answer her, nuzzling his face between her breasts, his hands going lower down on her body, until she trembled with delight…

Caleb carried his glass of 1875 Rothschild Cabernet Sauvignon into the library, where he and Colin were continuing their dinner conversation. He'd had three glasses before this, and another bottle sat in a corner, chilled and waiting to be consumed. In honor of it being his first night back home, the cook had prepared a delicious meal of rare filet mignon, roasted potatoes and vegetables, with cherries jubilee for dessert. Andrew had died several years back, but his son, Jeremy, who was continuing in his father's footsteps, now attended to the Morley household. He also knew about the Morley family "secret". Andrew had figured it out soon after young Caleb went off to boarding school by following his Master one night…and Jeremy was sworn to secrecy by both his father and Colin. "Will there be anything else either one of you will want, Master Colin? Or shall I leave you both to finish your most important conversation?" Jeremy asked. "That will be all, Jeremy. Thank you so much and give our gratitude to the cook as well! Dinner was superb!" Colin said.

It was a very special evening, in more ways than one. Colin had just told Caleb the most incredible story! Caleb was amazed…to think it was all true! His father was a vampire…capable of eternal youth and life? Superhuman strength! Immortality! Mysterious powers…heightened senses…the list went on and on! And no wonder his father had acted so distant and strange with him and his mother in the beginning - it all made perfect sense! Now Colin was telling him about Katarina…about their current love affair, and how Colin wanted Caleb to meet her. "If you do decide to turn, Caleb, I believe Katarina should do the honors, not me. She is much more expert with these things, and I want it done exactly right so as not to harm you in any way. Turning a human into a vampire is…well…a very delicate matter. Colin waited for Caleb's response. His son had taken the news completely in stride, drinking it all in as he sipped his wine and ate his food, seemingly at ease with the information. Caleb sensed that his father wanted him to say something. The first words out of his mouth were, "How soon can she do it? I can't wait!"

Colin grinned broadly and wrapped his son in a loving hug. "Ah, my boy, that's the spirit! But I don't want you to turn so soon…why not live with us for a year, observing, learning…so that once the year is up, you can enter this lifestyle with the full knowledge that you are truly doing what is right for you! Remember, vampires cannot procreate…that is something you really must come to grips with before committing to this."

Caleb looked lovingly at his father. "I realize that, and I believe I can accept it. It's just that right now, when I weigh having to take the time to find the right wife, and have a child, versus skipping all that and enjoying the pleasures you've described, well, it's not much of a contest! I admit that the thought of having to kill humans in order to survive is something I'll have to adjust to. But, if I do as you do and kill off the scum of the earth, at least when it's convenient, then I'm doing humanity a favor, right?" Caleb gave his father a wry smile. "Then we agree! You'll learn and observe for one year, and then it will be time! Oh, Caleb, we shall have a grand year together! Katarina will join us, and take us all over the world! She has been a vampire so much longer than I that her powers are unbelievable! With the bat of an eyelash she can transport us to alternate realities, or anywhere in this world that we want to go!" Colin poured himself and Caleb another glass of wine. This was certainly a time to celebrate!

End of Chapter Seven
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