The Forgotten Mansion

Chapter Two Part Three

Joshua raised his hand proudly and said, “I am sir. My name is Joshua Masterson and I am 10 years old.”

“Hello, sir Joshua. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. And what are the rest of your names and ages?” Malachi asked the children.

“I’m Dana Masterson, sir. And I am eight years old.” Dana said smiling.

Waving his hand around excitedly, Sebastian said, “My name is Sebastian. And I'm her twin. But I’m older by five minutes.”

Shaking her head Sebastian’s twin said, “I’m the smarter one. Hello sir, my name is Brooke, and we are six years old.”

Kneeling down Malachi looked at the youngest child and said, “And what is your name, sweetheart?”

Smiling bashfully and trying to hide behind her father, Solomon chuckled and said, “This is Judith. And she is the youngest of the group at three years old.”

“Well, hello, Judith it is nice to meet you. (Turning to the rest of the children) It is a pleasure to meet all of you. My name, as your father has mentioned, is Malachi. And I am 40 years old. But do you want to know a secret?” Malachi said.

They all nodded excitedly.

“Well, I have been alive for 527 years. Have any of you heard of vampires before?” Malachi said.

Shaking their heads, the children say, “No. What is that?”

Malachi explained what vampires are and none of the children seemed scared. Even with all the gory parts about how vampires have to drink blood to survive.

“Are you not afraid?” Solomon asked his children.

They shook their heads and Joshua spoke for them, saying “We aren't scared vampires. Malachi seems nice and I'm sure that if there was any either way to live then they would choose that.”

Nodding their heads, the other children show that they agree with Joshua.

“So, is that what happened to mommy? And that’s why we can’t see her yet?” Dana asked.

“Yes, Dana. I knew you kids are smart enough to understand it. Your mom, Queen Cecila was accidentally turned into a vampire. And your father, King Solomon asked me to come here and help her learn how to control herself.” Malachi said.

“Maybe we can make a way so that mommy doesn’t have to drink blood to survive. Would that help?” Sebastian asked Malachi.

Smiling at the children, Malachi said, “We can must certainly try.”

“Alright children, you may go play or start looking for something your mother can have instead of blood. Your nannies are waiting for you in the garden.” Solomon said smiling at his children.

He then gave each child a kiss on their head and sent them to their nannies.

“I am so glad that she is going to be alright. Do you really think that there is something that can replace the need to feed on blood? And let’s talk about how I saved you. I couldn’t sleep all night because I couldn’t figure out how a simple human such as myself could’ve possibly saved a vampire.” Solomon said as he gestured for Malachi to follow him into the dining hall.

“Well, first let’s start with ‘do I think there is something that can replace blood’. On the one hand yes, I do believe that, but on the other hand I'm not so sure because anyone who has looked for it has never found it. Now moving on to how you saved me. It was several years ago; it was such a minor thing that you probably don’t even remember it. You may have even been too young, but one day about 15 or so years ago I was on a mission here in town. My job was to assassinate one of the traitor vampires that worked for my family but fled here once they were found out. My target had run into the woods near your country mansion, and so I followed him. Your father caught him, and he began squealing like the pig that he was. I saw you staring at me, and your father called for the guards to search the ground for another vampire in the woods. You just kept watching me and when your father asked if you wanted to help you nodded and came towards me.” Malachi said.

“I do remember that. I was about 10 years old. I told you that my father tortures anyone found on his property uninvited and then I showed you how to leave unnoticed. How did you remember me? That was so long ago.” Solomon said.

Malachi smiled and said, “Each human has their own smell. But not you, your scent is an exact match for your father's. That's why I didn’t know that you and your family were here. This place smells like your father never left.”

“So, you wanted to attack my mother?” Solomon asked.

Malachi shook his head and said, “That woman that your father married wasn’t your mother. I know your mother. King Severus murdered your real mother After you were born out of pure assumption. I knew your mother’s family and so when I came to visit you after you were born, your father began making up lies about your mother to me and every time I defended her, I didn’t realize I dug her grave for her. Severus was a very evil man, and you are lucky to not have been raised by him. He thought that we were having an affair because I didn’t believe his lies. So, as king he had the right to choose whatever punishment he sees fit for your mother. He chose to behead her in front of the kingdom telling them that she had cheated on him and then stated that he would be marrying his mistress the following week.” Malachi said.

“So, you wanted to kill the woman who took my mother’s life? In order to punish Severus?” Solomon asked.

Nodding his head Malachi said, “Yes, and I will forever be remorsefully that I almost killed your wife instead.”

“I appreciate your kind words. How long did you know my mother's side of the family?” Solomon asked.

Thinking back Malachite smiled and said, “I knew your mother's family for 150 years. I watched a lot of your mother's family grow up. But your father wouldn’t believe any of it. And it feels like it's my fault she died.”