30 - ‘Come gentle night…’

Rikard’s eyebrow cocked as he replied, “Are you certain of that Kemp?” Turning he gestured and Leif strode into view.

“How…” Kemp stammered as he stared at his brother. “I didn’t feel you, or the presence of any other vampyre.”

“If you had accepted what you are long ago, when you should have, you would be strong enough now and Rikard would not have been able to mask me from you.” Leif shook his head, sighing deeply. “I’m sorry Kemp but he’s right, this can not continue. The two of you are both too new to what you are. I don’t agree with Rikard that you’re too young to know your feelings,” he shot a look at Rikard as he said that, “but together the two of you become so involved in those feelings and each other that you loose your concentration, making you vulnerable to any vampyre bent on your destruction.”

“Why would a vampyre want to hurt me,” Owen asked, frowning deeply.

“To harm me,” Rikard replied. “You are my creation. They could use you against me and you are too new to be able to resist.” He sighed as he looked at the young men still entwined in each other’s arms. “You have to believe that I wish things could be otherwise. I hold no ill feelings against you Kemp, but this was not meant to be.” He held out his hand to Owen. “Come my Child.”

“No father,” Owen said. Then he gasped as he felt himself being compelled to cross the distance that separated him from his Sire. “Please, no,” he begged. When he reached Rikard’s side the old vampyre gripped his shoulder. Owen turned his anguished gaze back to Kemp. “Help me,” he whispered.

Kemp tried to move forward, his hands reaching out for Owen. He found that his body was frozen in place. “Leif, please,” he begged, knowing this was his brother’s doing.

Leif looked at him sadly as he shook his head. “This is for the best; you’ll see that in time.”

Kemp’s eyes locked on Owen’s. “I’ll find you again, I promise.”

“I know,” Owen whispered. “In my heart I know. We will be together again.”

Without giving Owen time for another word to be spoken, Rikard led him into the dense shadows. Kemp watched until they disappeared from view. “I will return to you Owen. I will,” he said so softly his brother could barely hear him. Then, every line of his body tense with anguish and anger, he followed his brother away from the river front.