Chapter 66: Master of the House

June 1999

I looked at my watch, as it was 4:55 pm. The California sun was shining brightly in the summer air. It would be dark in a few hours. I stood up to face the Dragon, only to find an empty window. Where were they? Someone was calling my name out somewhere on the estate” horizon. I could see Dread with a sniper rifle in his hand, and Anubis with a pair of binoculars in his. They were running toward me. I started to run away from them, thinking I was their target, but they caught up with me to explain they had shot at the Dragon. They had hit him, knocking him back inside the room.

My first thoughts were about my wife. Where was she? Dread assured me she was ok, and that she had gone after the kids. However, she had not returned yet. We returned inside the house, only to find another mystery. The Dragon was gone, and Julie had suffered a severe head injury. The Dragon was even cleverer than we had thought. He was able to change identities again, first posing as Rosalva, then as Julie to make us hit her instead of him. He had Julie transformed as Rosalva, standing over him, with a pistol at his own head. He must have seen Dread as a sniper. Now Julie lied unconscious on the floor with a grazing wound to her head. Dread called for Scabs. I wondered why Dread and Anubis were not confused because I certainly was.

“Your wife explained everything to us. Malcolm Harris, we are at your service now. We have no other life to lead. This is all we know. You are the master of the house, and we are your employees if you will have us,” Anubis replied.

Far away, out on the highway, Talon’s limousine was slowing down to make the turn into the long drive leading up to the mansion. I hoped the wife and kids would be home soon. Home? Is this our new home? My head was spinning, as I was not sure if I should rejoice or grieve. I slumped to the ground, as I was suddenly very exhausted.

It had been a long night and day, full of violence and sadness, of redemption and forgiveness. This had been her plan: to have me back in the mansion, as master of the house, with her “children” who now were set free, to live their lives according to their choices. It was her wish. Now with the wife and my children soon at my side, life was as it should be.

Nevertheless, there were still many mysteries and questions unanswered. There were many people to account for. I would find them all at the end of my journey. Nevertheless, my journey was not finished as my task was not finished yet. Julie needed caring for. There were still two clans out there, the Blue and Purple Velvet clans. No doubt, they were turning over in their coffins now, as they sensed a disturbance in the power in the evil they spewed forth.

I thanked God there was only one of her. Oh, there are others of her kind, but none like her or that would compare. Such creatures do not belong among those in this world. I would miss the Queen, as I knew I would never be able to get her out of my head or heart. She was now at peace, but I still cannot help remembering her last words, “It is not over!” She would become a permanent part of my memory. Already her ghost haunted me, and I knew I would always be tempted to return to her tomb to visit her, and partake in the gift she had left me, the history of her kind, her race. There would never be another creature such as her, a vampire who had gone from death to life. She had found her redemption. That was the way it should be.