“Holy shit,” Seth said in an
awe-filled voice as Rian’s home came into view.
“Yeah, it’s a bit…big,” Kemp
admitted.
“I guess. Wow.”
The Tudor manor house was
set amid rolling, tree-covered hills in a hidden valley virtually inaccessible
except by the narrow lane the limousine was carefully negotiating. The
pearl-gray stone buildings, for there were several that made up Rian’s
holdings, seemed to glow eerily in the moonlight.
As the limo pulled up the in
front of the main house, Rian stepped into view, his arm around the waist of an
auburn-haired beauty.
“Your parents I presume,”
Seth said, sensing Rian’s power even as he and Kemp exited the car.
The woman hurried down the
steps to enfold Kemp in a tight embrace before stepping back to look at him.
“You’ve grown up,”
Kemp laughed. “Yes Mother,
it happens you know.” Taking Seth’s hand he performed the introductions as his
father joined them.
“So this is the young man
who needs my help,” Rian said, cutting to the chase as the quartet started up
the steps.
“Rian,” his wife said,
admonishing him. “Let the boys get settled in before you start interrogating
them."
Rian chuckled. “Yes my dear,
you’re correct. We have a time enough.”
As they entered the manor
house, Seth stopped, gaping at the great hall with its high, beamed ceiling.
“It’s like going back to medieval times. I expect to see King Arthur walk in
any minute.”
“Wait until you see the rest
of the place,” Kemp told him.
“But not yet.” Rian studied
Seth and then signaled for one of the young men standing at the back of the
hall to come forward. As he introduced him to Seth, Kemp’s mother took her son
aside.
“I have a meal ready for you
as well, that doesn’t require a donor,” she told him as she led the way into
one of the rooms off the main hall. “I suspect you’re starving after your long
trip.”
“More than. Father’s plane
was sort of lacking in the food department.”
“As always,” she replied
with a roll of her eyes. “I always have to remind him to stock up when we
travel.”
“That boy Seth’s going to
feed from, is he a new ghoul? I don’t remember seeing him before. He’s
awfully…pretty.”
“Jealous?” She smiled
knowingly. “Not to worry, he’s devoted to Rian and quite, quite straight, which
is why your father chose him.”
“I wasn’t jealous,” Kemp
told her in denial. “Well, okay, maybe a touch. Things are still new between us,
so—yeah.”
“Sweetie, I get jealous and
I’ve been married to your father for well over twenty years now.” She nodded
toward the table where a meal was laid out and said, “Sit, eat and tell me all
about Seth.”
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