The narrow, high arched window was closed, but its curtain, artistically embroidered around the edges, was drawn open and the shallow light of the blood moon shimmered through the colourless gss into the luxurious kitchen, directly onto Kayra. She was finishing the onion tart for her patriarch, even though within these walls and his cn he was normally addressed as Father or Oskar. However, Kayra wasn’t sure if her father was in the mood for his favourite sweet tooth tonight, but out of a sense of duty alone, she had made the cake anyway. Not only her loyalty, but also her love, the love of a daughter, belonged entirely to her patriarch and he was surely suffering badly in these hours. Kayra regretted more than she mourned, for if she was honest, she had simply never had much to do with the dead woman. The cn had simply been too big for everyone to know or like each other, as was the case in every family. My poor Lord, Kayra thought as she picked up the small ceramic cake pte and a matching pte in her other hand and headed for the library where Oskar was staying. She knew that the study was his favourite pce when her father needed rest and time and once more, he would go through this torturous process. Others did the same, Kayra heard as she strode through one of the mansion’s long, very high-ceilinged corridors. No matter where one was and what tone was struck, however, musical tones always echoed well in the corridors of the building and always gave Kayra a sense of security. Someone, somewhere, was pying a slow, comforting melody on one of the pianos, providing a fitting ambience to the cssical candlesticks, framed by bronze gss boxes, on the wall, although there was also normal lighting, but it was usually switched off and so the grandiose corridors were bathed more in darkness than light.

  Heavy footsteps came from one side. "Cake for Raug?" asked a familiar clumsy voice.

  "No Raug, this is for Father," Kayra smiled to the only ghoul of the cn she had known for over 40 years.

  "Father sad," Raug commented, scratching his tousled hair. His skin alone betrayed him as a monster, so pale blue and full of scars. In addition, Raug’s body was unusually muscur, but ignorant people would see that more as a deformity, and just then slight anger rose in the ghoul. "Who makes father sad? Raug punishes."

  "There has already been a punishment, Raug," Kayra reassured the servant. "And let father have his peace, will you? He needs to think."

  The ghoul just didn’t know any better and could only obey. "Raug understands," he nodded leisurely. He was smarter than a zombie and not undead, but he still cked a complex understanding and he was just as little alive. He could be seen as a human with diminished intelligence. "Raug’s assignment?"

  "We’re getting a visit from Judge Fletcher soon," Kayra mentioned, because as her father’s personal assistant, she had received notice of the upcoming visit. "Please be so kind and wait at the door until he knocks and then lead him to the library."

  "Raug is waiting. Raug is receiving guest for father," the ghoul replied, stomping down the corridor with arms swinging weakly.

  Kayra reached the study, where the wide double door stood open a tiny crack. Flickering light blinked steadily out through the opening and Kayra heard the crackle of burning wood before she slid the door noiselessly open. She waited and looked across the dark room.

  Huge it was, a good three storeys high and much wider still in its footprint. All the curtains were drawn and, apart from a few scattered candle nterns, only the light from the inviting, huge firepce at the far end provided some brightness. Four spacious armchairs were perfectly spaced in front of the fire, but for a long time they had mostly been more symbolism than usable, for only one person sat on one of the silky soft pieces of furniture and had hogged the visible armrest with his resting arm.

  "Kayra," the patriarch’s voice spoke introspectively, but offering. "Please, do not linger in silence for hours again."

  "Certainly not, Patriarch Stein," Kayra replied, walking to the armchairs. She herself extremely rarely called Oskar Stein Father or Oskar even in this private atmosphere, for the sake of respect alone, and whenever she wandered through the library she was reminded of why.

  Times were modern and in the mansion, even in this oversized room, there were the conveniences of the best computers and digital databanks, but on the whole this library was a mecca of bound leather and home to scrolls, some of which were several thousand years old. Literature from Kayra’s native Palestine was also to be found here, which Oskar had obtained in 1249 when he had made a pilgrimage through the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

  "I’ve made you an onion tart, just in case you feel like it," Kayra said, setting the pte and ptter down on a round, linen cloth-covered side table beside the armchair.

  "Very thoughtful of you, but I think this delicacy will only be an ornament today," Oskar declined politely but sadly. "Or perhaps I can persuade Fletcher to have a piece."

  "You’ve been trying to do that for nearly a hundred years," Kayra commented, putting her hand in front of her mouth to suppress what she considered an inappropriate smirk. "I rather think he will prefer the good drop. I’ve already had a bottle of young blood brought from the celr, to be served when the judge arrives."

  "Good, good," Oskar nodded weakly. He was talking to his servant, but he did not take his eyes from the bzing fmes of the wide firepce for a second. "How is the cn?"

  "Well, I’m sure you can hear for yourself," Kayra remarked, closing her eyes as if she felt for the music and Oskar’s suffering. "Everyone grieves in their own way, and I’m immensely sorry about Julia."

  "Really? I didn’t think you were that close."

  "We werent, patriarch," Kayra replied diplomatically, forming a perfect stance where she folded her arms behind her back. Despite the situation, she wanted to maintain her high standard as a servant. "But I know what she meant to you, as do all your children, and you know what you mean to me. That is why I feel your pain."

  "A self-inflicted one," Oskar asserted with conviction. He did not bathe in self-pity, for that was not his way. Even in this situation, his presence as master of the house and cn did not fall. "I have significantly underestimated Julia’s desire for a child of her own, I think."

  "Was that the reason? Do you think she wanted it so badly that she disregarded the ws?"

  "I don’t think, I know," the Kn leader revealed. "Just a fortnight ago, I was talking to her about the issue. However, with all the trouble over the past few months, I did not think it wise to father another child now."

  "Ah yes, the other charge," Kayra remembered thoughtfully. It was no secret that Julia was at loggerheads with the Tenebrae for allegedly colborating with the Eyes of the Apostles. "I take it Julia was less than enthusiastic about your view of things?"

  "Let’s just say she didn’t share my view and I vehemently asked her to trust me."

  "Unfortunately, it seems she couldn’t bring herself to do so," Kayra stated guardedly, dissatisfied. She wasn’t the only one who loved her father, she knew that. Every cn member was extremely important to him and he got that affection back just the same, even if there were disagreements from time to time. That was why Kayra had to suppress her frustration at Julia’s decision. "Julia’s actions ... this will lead to more tension."

  "That’s to be expected," Oskar agreed. Humans could be political beasts and drag whole lives through the mud. Politics among vampires, however, was like an echo that would haunt you for a thousand years and at the slightest mistake, a bck hole would open up that could destroy whole generations of vampires, socially or permanently and Oskar had been around long enough to sense the danger. "This breach of the w, is like cattle ripe for the sughter to Lady Gardner and all our enemies. House Stein will not fall, but certainly more intensive investigations will be made into our cn."

  "We are loyal to the Tenebrae," Kayra said with conviction, even as she thought of Oskar’s ill-will towards the vampiric leadership. "This should come to nothing."

  "Someone with enough ambition, might fake something," Oskar warned quietly but darkly, his left eye wandering in Kayra’s direction without his head turning. "No, someone will fake something."

  The servant was aware of this. "I didn’t think it needed any extra mention," she said, lowering her head anxiously with her eyes closed. "This business about Julia and the apostles - you hold to your conviction?"

  "It’s not a conviction, I know it for a fact," Oskar pronounced under brief strain, so that his fingers formed themselves into pointed cws and he scratched the back of his armchair a little. "Someone has lured Julia into a trap and sullied her reputation."

  "Of course, I didn’t mean to imply I believed that either," Kayra said carefully, looking at her father. "I’m much more concerned that Julia has shaken your confidence with tonight."

  The tension remained in Oskar’s body for a moment, but then it left him and the patriarch had to smile sadly. "I have been on this earth for almost a thousand years, Kayra. My children may disappoint me at times, but my faith in every cn member is hard to shake."

  "And we all appreciate that very much, Father," Kayra allowed herself to say, but that personal moment was quickly put aside. "So should we be proactive? Or remain passive?"

  "The first move has been made, but its purpose will not soon become apparent," Oskar murmured thoughtfully. The nearly 1000 years of experience in his life reflected anew, for he was not only a collector of knowledge, but had also participated in enough wars and conflicts that the cn leader exuded a natural general attitude as he calmly reflected. "We’ll leave the field to our opponents for now, but I have a very important task for you."

  "I am at your service, Patriarch," Kayra leaned forward devoted. "What are your orders?"

  "Julia’s child ... retrace his steps," Oskar said guardedly. He tried to hide it, but Oskar cared that nothing should happen to the child. "How you do it, I leave entirely to you, only no one must notice."

  Yes, Kayra guessed that this was not just to observe, but to protect. "Of course, patriarch. I will personally take care of it and ... shall I ... intervene in the most extreme case?"

  Oskar hesitated and took his time with his answer. Never letting one’s guard down entirely was certainly a hard-won and learned lesson of his life and had nothing to do with distrusting his own. "If you really must, cover all your tracks in the process and put Ryan where he won’t be found again so quickly. Otherwise, I just want reports on his actions."

  "That is how it will be done. I will begin tonight."

  "Thank you, Kayra," Oskar murmured in relief and the moment could not have been more appropriate.

  The library door opened and a massive figure blocked the entrance. "Raug bring guest to father," the ghoul said, making way.

  Judge Fletcher emerged, wrapped in a long, greyish leather cloak. He barely gnced at the ghoul and entered.

  Just as Kayra turned to the guest to be polite, Oskar knew how to rise and greet his old friend. "Oliver, it’s good of you to come, though it wasn’t necessary. I’m sure you have a lot of work to do."

  "Not at all," Fletcher replied level-headedly and began to open his coat. Kayra came to take it from the judge as he continued. "Like I’d leave you to your own devices on a night like this. Thank you, Kayra."

  Kayra took the coat. "My pleasure, Judge Fletcher," she said, taking the garment to a hook near the firepce. As the men took their seats, she walked briefly to the door afterwards. "Raug, I have a new assignment for you."

  "Raug is listening," the ghoul nodded.

  "I want you to tell Ashford that he will be taking over my duties for the next few days," Kayra instructed. Oskar didn’t have many servants, for belonging to his cn didn’t necessarily mean being a servant. At least that was the case with him and Kayra’s services were entirely voluntary. "After that, you go to Mr Allister’s house. You remember where the house is, don’t you?"

  "Raug knows. Necromancer lives there."

  "That’s right Raug," Kayra nodded with satisfaction. She had picked up worrying reports from the surrounding country folk over the st few days that needed to be investigated. "You tell him to keep his creations in check. If he does not, Patriarch Stein will no longer tolerate him. Once you’ve told him that, you search the area around his property and the forest. A few zombies are said to be roaming around there - kill them and then bury them nice and deep. Got it?"

  Raug’s gaze remained dull. There was no movement in him, barely a twitch of facial muscles. "Raug urges control. After that, Raug fttens zombies and buries them nice and deep."

  "Perfect. Get going."

  "Raug’s looking for Ashford," the ghoul said, and behind him the library door was left ajar.

  Kayra returned quietly to the firepce where the men were already talking. "You’re asking for a lot there, Oskar," Fletcher said irresolutely. "I want to help, but enforcing it could be dangerous."

  "More of a request than a demand," Oskar corrected. Quite obviously, the patriarch had started the conversation right off with a bang. "Julia is dead. There is no longer any reason to pursue this any further."

  "She is dead, and I am truly sorry for your loss beyond measure," Fletcher regretted, but it sounded more like a phrase. "Still, you know I couldn’t stop it even if I said yes. Lady Gardner certainly does. I only judge and watch that she doesn’t abuse her power."

  "I can assure you - Julia had nothing more to do with the Apostles," Oskar expressed clearly. There was no doubt in his mind, neither about the deceased, nor about his cn, and he became more serious for a moment. "No one in my house has. If they did, I would immediately deal with this transgression personally and without mercy."

  Silently, Kayra pced herself behind her patriarch and earned a scrutinising look from Fletcher. This was not the first round Kayra had attended as a silent witness, however, which was why the judge continued to focus on the conversation. "Who would doubt that? Only fools."

  "Lately the nights have been full of fools, stupid, greedy fools."

  "Does that surprise you?" asked Fletcher. He knew good reasons why this was so and they visibly worried him. "After the Apostles managed to kill not one but two members of the Ninth Circle in the st few months, there is a tremendous imbance within the Tenebrae. I tell you, there’s something in the air these nights, and then now the Blood Moon Child."

  "A harmless fellow who had bad luck," Oskar dismissed this statement with a wave of his hand. "Most vampires didn’t have a choice when they were sired and in his case there was just a blood moon shining. Just don’t get caught up in the hysteria."

  "Not me," Fletcher shook his head. At the same time, another woman entered the library with a tray of wine gsses and a full bottle of blood that clearly smelled human, but the judge paid the dy no attention. "The masses, on the other hand, do. I’ve spoken to enough already. Many are nervous and worried, while others are developing unhealthy ambition. The people need stability."

  "Well an age-old wisdom that applies to humans, us and many other beings alike," Oskar agreed, folding his hands together over his p. As much as he loved his children, it had long been known that Oskar thought little of the Tenebrae for decades, and he could hardly be bmed. "It would be all the more important to me that my house would not be thrown into more turmoil. In Great Kingston and throughout America, House Stein has been a guarantor of loyalty and stability for centuries. So why continue the investigation?`"

  Kayra, meanwhile, approached the human servant with the tray. "Thank you, Emilie," she spoke in hushed tones.

  The human woman was nearing her 40s but looked very pretty for her age and as an often stressed single mother of two. Over all, she had a bit more meat on her bones, but she was by no means chubby or fat. "Here you go, Kayra," Emilie smiled. She was wearing appropriate maid’s clothes, even if it was a marked departure from the typical maid’s style, with no apron, skirt or cap. "Is there anything else I can do?"

  Kayra felt a little scrawnier than she really was next to Emilie, with her own gaunt, six-foot-five figure, and every now and then she thoroughly wished she had the same kind of curves she could have had with shape-shifting, but the constant expenditure of energy for a purely cosmetic look was not worth it to Kayra. "The bats and ravens need to be fed. Be so good."

  "Of course," Emilie curtsied simply and was about to leave the room.

  "Emilie, one moment please," Oskar’s voice came from the armchair and he beckoned the woman with a granting motion.

  At his word, the servant elegantly turned around and approached the armchair. "What can I do for you, Patriarch Stein?"

  "How have you been?" asked Oskar with interest, but probably he just wanted to hear other things that night, far from grief and politics. "We haven’t seen each other for a few weeks."

  "Soon the Christmas madness will begin," Emilie replied with pyed horror. "But my children are already madly looking forward to their holiday in the mountains."

  That the patriarch had not seen her for so long was normal. The few, human employees of his house, mostly worked during the day. "So how’s the new school?"

  "Oh, right!" it embarrassingly occurred to Emilie. "I haven’t had a chance to thank you yet! Without your recommendation and help! So the school is really stunning and my kids don’t stop raving about it! Especially the many clubs and activities in the afternoon, are just bombastic for them! A thousand thanks to Patriarch Stein!"

  "Not at all. It’s thanks enough for me that the two of them like it," Oskar said contentedly. He always preferred loyalty and diligence to be rewarded, which was why he had used his influence and money for Emilie’s children. "But I’m sure you have a lot of work to do and I′m keeping you here."

  "Oh not so, so yes," Emilie stumbled fleetingly before she caught herself. "Yes, there is a lot to do. I’m sure we can find another occasion to talk, if that’s convenient for you, Patriarch Stein."

  "Whenever your time and mine permits," Oskar nodded curtly and Emilie took her leave with a polite bow.

  Kayra looked after her briefly, but not for control. She knew Emilie was extremely reliable and had worked for Patriarch Stein for almost ten years and that was saying something. Not every human justified a vampire choosing mortal servants, for it was not forbidden. It was always a huge risk, though, and failure could bring harsh punishment for a vampire, but Kayra wasn’t worried about Emilie and took the tray to the masters. "I think you’re thirsty," Kayra guessed and she put her fingers to the cork of the bottle and pulled it out effortlessly with the typical plop of a wine before pouring the gsses half full.

  Fletcher was already getting excited by the rising scent of the blood, a real connoisseur. "Very, very young blood," he guessed correctly, and after toasting with Oskar, he tasted rapturously. "A virgin male to boot, so delicate ..."

  "That’s right," Kayra confirmed politely, holding out her hand. She had to cover the corners of her mouth to hide her disgust. The bottle contained the blood of an eight year old boy and as was the case with normal food, the taste and quality of blood varied depending on the source, but Kayra found it disgusting to distort the blood of such young people. To her it had something of vampiric paedophilia about it and supposedly Judge Fletcher liked to take younger victims here and there and not just to drink blood. "Would you like a slice of onion pie too, perhaps, Mr Fletcher?"

  The judge smirked in satisfaction, with the sweet taste of blood on his lips. "Oskar has been trying to get me interested in his pie for over 90 years. Let’s give it another 90 years and I might consider it."

  "You’ve never tasted it," Oskar remarked.

  "The smell is enough for me. Not very appealing to me."

  "Well I’ve tried again," Oskar conceded defeat, but the small talk was not to st and out of the corner of his eye, he looked anxiously at the judge. "Just as I am trying to keep the peace. So you agree with me that Haus Stein is an important pilr of order?"

  "In all respects," Fletcher agreed, enjoying his gss of blood. "But as I said, unhealthy ambition causes some to forget or overlook that fact."

  "Which is why it is vital that you bring Lady Gardner to her senses," Oskar made his point abundantly clear again without raising his voice. "She’s not even 400 years old, but her rapid rise within the Tenebrae is making her drunk with power, and from what I’ve heard, someone has put the ideas in her head that I’m an enemy of the Tenebrae, which is why she sees me as a great opportunity to gain even more recognition and power."

  "Enemy, mhpf," Fletcher murmured indecisively. Nearly a hundred years of friendship might have sounded a lot, but it was rather fresh for vampires, and yet the judge was more than aware. "You haven’t been a friend since then either, though."

  That was a subject Oskar didn’t even want to broach and he responded accordingly dismissively. "I’m fully aware of that and we’ll leave it at that, please."

  "I’m sorry, Oskar, but unfortunately there are more than a few who consider your attitude towards the Tenebrae to be highly questionable. You are certainly no enemy, but you try to stay out of just about everything the Tenebrae undertakes."

  "Keeping my distance is better than me tearing it apart," Oskar murmured in a subliminal warning tone. Each sylble was as weighty as the one before and his cats yellow identical eyes looked to the judge in a mixture of threat and weariness. "I seek no conflict, as I seek no friendship, but should the Tenebrae threaten my home, no one can say what will happen, Oliver"

  The judge was more than aware of the weight of this statement and here was the end of blood enjoyment for him as he put down the almost empty gss. "I’m sure no sane vampire would want that, Oskar," Fletcher said as a diplomat and friend. "And as for the ambitious ... I’m sure we can find a solution, but ..." Now the judge looked to the silent listener and asked politely. "The details, let’s settle them between us, please."

  "You’ve been my friend for so long," Oskar replied, pointing at Kayra with the back of his hand, "Her loyalty and discretion should be very familiar to you."

  "Secrecy is not the problem, comfort is," Fletcher asserted, showing the typical side of night-time politics and power games he was used to. "In private, I just feel more comfortable. So would you be so kind?"

  "We always treat welcome guests of this house with respect and comply with their requests," Oskar said, and that settled it. "Kayra, please leave us alone."

  "Of course, Patriarch Stein," Kayra complied without resistance, with a formal one-handed bow that was equally addressed to the judge. "A pleasant night I wish you gentlemen."

  "Thank you and good luck," Oskar wished. Even in front of one of his few friends, there was no need for him to go into details about his servant’s important mission. To that one, the patriarch offered another gss instead. "So, another sip of blood?"

  "Always," Fletcher grinned, as Kayra disappeared noiselessly into the darkness of the house and into the night.