On arriving back home, Logan went directly to his study. "Where's James?" he asked Michael when he did not see the boy in the room.
"He finished his homework early so I let him go play in the gardens. He really is a very precocious boy," Michael grinned from his spot at the desk.
"He shouldn't be outside... not with Alex searching for him." Logan almost shouted.
"Relax Logan, the walls around the garden are fairly high. It is not like someone from the street can see him."
Needing to strike at something, Logan knocked down the pile of school books on the desk. "Do you know where I just came from?" Logan demanded.
Standing up, Michael took a few steps away from his angry lord. "From what I understand you were only meeting the other major Houses of New York."
"It was a meeting with the other Houses. There was only one topic of discussion however... James."
"So Alex is still after the boy?"
"Yes... he's even offered to give us San Diego back if we `help' in the search."
"I see... so why do I have this nagging feeling that you will not be handing the boy over to Lord Vox."
"Think about it Michael... why would Alex go to such great effort just to get his hands on one orphaned boy?"
"I always assumed it's because the boy's mother is Lord Vox's new bride."
"Considering that Alex lost his own brother during the war over San Diego... I do not believe that his lordship would give it up just to please his bride."
"But what other reason can there be? The boy is to young to change and too small to feed off of."
"How old is Jason?" Logan asked after a long silence.
"Alex's heir... the boy only reached his changing day last year."
"And how many brides has he taken?"
"If the rumors be true... none. Considering the young man's blood lust, that is a little surprising."
"Why do you think Lord Vox pick the young man as his successor? Alex might be head of House Vox but he did not earn the title through his blood. It is his political prowess and his ability to manipulate others that are the source of his power. Jason however was given the purest of bloods on his changing day... gathered from several of the ancient husks they keep in the catacombs."
"But why would they destroy the bodies of their former leaders?" Michael asked confused.
"Alex's ambitions have always been larger than just ruling the first of all Houses. I fear he wants to return back to the old ways when there was only one House... House Vox. To achieve that he needs a symbol... something that would commanded the fear and respect of the other Houses."
"And Jason is that symbol?"
"Is he not the most powerful of our kind to be created in centuries? Do not the whispers speak of him with the same reverence that is reserved for the First One?" Logan asked.
"The end times," Michael whispered. "Is that what Alex wants... to bring about the end of us all?"
"Hahahahaha... Alex does not even believe in the First One let alone the prophecies. No Alex is a man of science. He sees our kind as an evolved species of mankind. To him Jason is nothing more than a lab experiment, the next step in evolution on Alex's road to power."
"Why are we talking about Jason in the first place? It is Alex who is after James."
"Because... I am beginning to think Alex does not want James for himself. I am starting to fear he wants the boy for Jason," was all Logan was willing to say.
"Why should I uproot myself father? I was just starting to get comfortable here." Jason Vox, a tall strong young man with short jet black hair and brown eyes asked.
"It's for your own good my son. I am spending a great many assets to help secure your future for you. The least you can do it take an interest." Alex replied. Unlike all other members of House Vox, he was always careful around his creation. Jason's temper was only exceeded by his strength.
"What if I don't want to be Lord of all Houses?"
Alex arched an eyebrow. "And why would that be the case?"
"Looking at how you live your life... all I see are long meetings, shady dealings, and a great amount of time worrying about someone stabbing you in the back. When was the last time you walked the streets alone to catch your own prey?"
"Tara." Alex replied.
Jason smirked. "I hardly think she was much of a challenge. She was half dead when you found her. She practically begged you to take her blood."
"She does have that delectable son of hers." Alex insisted.
"A scrawny seven year old boy? Even just using him as a snack you would most likely kill him."
"He was never meant for me Jason. I wanted to give him to you... as a test."
"A test... I think I am well beyond little games."
"Not to test you my dear Jason... but the boy." Alex said as he took out several large books. "Here... I want you to read these."
"Homework... you must really think little of me if you think you can give me a reading assignment." Jason chuckled.
"If you wish to understand why I am so committed to finding Tara's son for you, you will do as I ask."
"Would it not be a lot simpler if you just told me?"
"In this case... no. Some truths can not be believed unless the person sees them for himself." Alex replied.
"And when am I going to find time to do all this light reading when you want me out searching for the boy?" Jason asked, lifting the heavy stack of books.
Alex let a small smile grow on his face. "After a while you will know what to look for."
Taking the books to his room, Alex opened up the top book, the oldest of the three. It turned out to be a record of the holdings of each House, starting with the first one, House Vox. On each page, written in tiny script, was the list of the members, property, and servants of each House had in a given year... including who was married to whom.
To Jason's surprise... the first brides' were all male. Not just for a few houses, but all of them. As time passed however... that was less often the case, until only the heads of each House and House Vox itself kept the custom. Then, in the year 1453 AD, all the male brides' had a line through their names, a sign that they had died. Not only that, but the names of many of the servants were also crossed out. As the year passed all of the old families that had severed the Houses for centuries died out. All the families were gone but one, Morgan, a family that had served House Vox since its beginning. On the last page of the book there was a single member of that ancient family left, an `x' by his name, a sign that he had been released from service.
Suspecting that was not the end of the story, Jason opened up the second book. It was a copy of the Book of the Dead, listing the names of the noble families of England and Wales during the time of William the Conqueror. In the book there were several families listed with the name `Morgan'. The final book, which was more of a notebook, had been done by a genealogist... it traced the history of one Timothy Morgan, who had come to America shortly after the Mayflower, marrying the daughter of William Brewster, the Plymouth colony's pastor. The family that grew out of that marriage was never large, with only one male offspring in each generation to pass on the family name. On the last page were three names. The first, Jonathan Morgan, was typed like all the others. Written in black ink next to his name with a line connecting them was Tara Morgan. Below that was James Morgan.
"Hmmmm... interesting but I don't see how this concerns me. So what if the last of the old families still exists." Jason frowned as he closed the last of the books.
Little did Jason know how soon he would come to care about that fact a great deal.
"Logan?" James asked as he held the black telephone to his ear, his voice trembling.
"James... is everything alright?" Logan asked, sensing the boy's fear.
"I want to come back home." James said.
"I want you to come back too, but it's not safe for you here. The bad men are still looking for you." Logan said with sympathy.
"But I miss you and Michael. I have no one to talk to." James said as tears grew in his eyes.
"Is Stephanie not taking good care of you?"
"No... she is real nice and cooks better than Michael but I miss you both very much. I miss the night."
"James you need to listen to me. You are only safe so long as the sun is in the sky. So long as there is light you are free to do whatever you want. The night is no longer your playground. It is no longer safe."
"But..." James protested.
Logan let out a sigh, even on the phone it was hard to say no to the boy. "James put Stephanie on."
After hearing a few sniffles Logan heard Stephanie's voice on the phone. "Yes my lord?"
"Have you tried taking James to the zoo?"
"Yes... I think he enjoyed seeing them but he spent most of the time asking about when he is going to see you."
"I hear there is a new video game system out... something called a Coleco Vision. Maybe James would enjoy playing Donkey Kong or something."
"My own children already have one. So far James has shown no interest in playing video games."
"What do you suggest then Stephanie? I don't like James being this miserable." Logan asked, frustrated.
"Considering all he has gone through he is going to be miserable for some time. From what you have told me he lost his entire family... this after years of watching his mother suffer. You can't buy a child happiness... at least not this child. As for my kids all I think you would have to do is hand them your credit card to get them to smile."
"So there is nothing I can do?"
"Only time and love can heal this boy's heart. It would not hurt if you tried to visit him. He does feel a little abandoned."
"It wouldn't be safe. All the eyes of the other Houses, not just Alex Vox, are on me... waiting me to lead them to James."
"Can I ask why?"
"The other Houses are searching in hope of gaining House Vox's favor. As for why Alex is putting so much effort in searching for the boy... I can only suspect."
"If he is in such danger... should James not leave the city? Go someplace where they would not search?"
"I..." Logan struggled. He did not know how he could explain that even though he could not come near James, he was not willing to give him up either.
"I see..." Stephanie sighed. "I don't care how you do it my lord but James needs to see you."
"And how would you have me do that!" Logan demanded.
"I don't know... you're the one who has several lifetimes' worth of experiences. Find a way."
Logan held the phone to his ear, staying silent until he came with a solution. "Tomorrow take the subway, sometime around four."
"In the morning?" Stephanie assumed.
"No," Logan replied.
"I see... I won't ask how you will arrange this little trick."
"It will not be as hard as you imagine," Logan chuckled. "Now put James back on the phone so I can give him the good news."
"Here you go my Lord." Stephanie replied.
"James?" Logan asked.
"Yes Logan?" James said, hope and expectation in his voice. He had listened in on the conversation.
"How would you like to see me tomorrow?"
"Really!"
"Yes."
"Will Michael be there too?"
"No... I am afraid it will only be me. Is that ok?" Logan replied.
"It will be perfect." James said.
"Then get a goodnight sleep and be good. I will see you tomorrow." Logan said as he kissed the phone.
"I will... I love you Logan."
"I love you too my boy." Logan said as he felt hot red tears run down his face.
************************************************************************** Well folks it took about a year but finally the third book in the Centurion Series has finally been published and is now up for sale on Amazon. If you haven't read any of these amazing books you'll find The Centurion and The Academy both up for sale now also on Amazon at 32% off the original price. Believe me you won't be disappointed as honestly feel these books reflect some of the best of my works. If you do get the books and enjoy them as much as so many already have please leave a review on the Amazon page so that others might see what sort of treat they're in store for.
On one of my other projects, work on a new series 'Mir' are proceeding well with the first book "Sons of Mir" almost in it's final form. Right now the rough draft version of the book temporarily titled, Children of Mir, is still up on the yahoo site but will soon be taken down as the final draft, which is already twice as long as the origin one on the yahoo site, gets ready to be submitted to the publishers. So if you are interested in reading a rough version of one of my books I hope to have published in the future join up on the yahoo site and read Children of Mir for yourself.
Well that's pretty much it. Take care and have a wonderful holiday.
JMH
trandar2002@yahoo.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adultwritingworkshop/
http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Ascending-Book-Centurion-Cycle/dp/1934625949/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228840623&sr=1-4