Beyond Human: Queen's Shadow Series

34.) Prelude to the Masquerade I

~~~Lilith

While I was waiting for Apollos, I found myself, thinking about him, Clovis. I remember him, days before he disappeared. He was a brave man and a good one at that, but from what I've heard, he's changed to the degree of assaulting my son, and now, this is who he was. I didn't know how to feel but I accepted everything.

After knowing this though, I forced myself to understand. I forced myself to understand why this happened and yet I couldn't understand. Clovis was kind. He was smart and I loved him. I watched him grow up to be a man and I was also the first woman he ever loved so it upset me, knowing that he changed to be the worst version of himself. I have to get to the bottom of this and I know he'll be there. I know he'll be at the summit that occurs after the masquerade, he might even be at the masquerade, too.

Clovis, you poor fool. What have you done? I felt guilty for what happened to Apollos but I also knew my son. I knew Clovis, too but I knew what had happened. Clovis had changed and something had changed him. Before I knew it, I felt eyes on me, I had felt them on me for a while. I thought it was Gabriel but it wasn't. I didn't feel like playing the waiting game so I said, "Are you going to come out or am I going to have to make you come out?"

At that moment, the person began to reveal themselves and I heard his voice. 'Good evening Queen Lilith. I am Apollos'-" 'You are Apollos' new progeny." I say with a smile. As I begin to look at the young man, something about him felt familiar, and then I heard him say, 'My name is Richard Van Hellsing.' With my eyebrow raised, "Van Hellsing?" I say. 'Yes.' he says with pride.

"It's been a while since I've met one of you. The last time I met a Van Hellsing, I was saving two twin brothers," 'I would be the one.' he says with a smile. "Oh my, you've grown up to be quite handsome." 'Thank you.' he says, looking a bit flustered. It's then that he says, 'It's been years, ma'am and I'm happy to meet you finally again.' "I'm happy you've grown into a fine young man." 'Thank you.' He says to me, 'I couldn't wait to meet you in real life again.'

It had been years and I could see the delight in his eyes. It was then that I felt his thoughts and at that moment, I stopped myself. I felt a love that I had not felt from another vampire in years, but he was not someone I wanted to be around. 'I'm sorry,' he says, 'I'm still not into the telepathy thing.' As he says this, I then chuckle and say, "You're quite cute, young man." He smiles and says, 'Thank you.' At that moment, I felt passion ignite inside of me, I don't know why something in him reminded me of all my lovers but he was my son's progeny.

In one swift moment, I began to feel attracted to him. It's then that I hear Apollos step in, 'Hey Mom. I've been looking for you. I want to talk to you.' "Apollos, it's good to see you." Thank god, I say to myself, thank god for my son's shitty timing. I was thinking about a younger vampire in that way, hell he was almost Michael's age when I first met him and I was beyond this. I needed to stop.

'I wanted to talk to you about something, Queen' At that moment, I thanked Apollos for his bad timing. "Until next time, Richard," I say with a smile. It's then that he stammers, 'Yes. Until next time.' As Apollos began to walk into the room, he says, 'I read some of the new treaties for the vampires.' "Oh yes, and how do you like it?" It's then that he says, 'I think it's great. To be honest with you, I think it's something we could use in the future, something that will allow us to grow more.' Hearing him say that made me happy that he thought about it but it was then that he said, 'I think we should add more to it, though.'

I then say, "More to it?" 'Yes.' he says with a smile, 'I believe that we should make greater strides in introducing ourselves to humanity.' And then I smiled and said, "Really? What do you believe?" 'I think we as vampires should reveal ourselves by the turn of the century.' I heard what he said but I was not prepared for it. He wanted vampires to be known, he wanted vampires to exist by the turn of the century. It surprised me but even more than that, it made me think about it.