Page 96 of The Vampire King's Victory

“We could see other spirits going towards it, going through it,” his father added.

“Were you drawn to it?” Julian found himself asking.

He and his parents had only discussed generally what they would talk about on the show. They hadn’t wanted to know the questions in advance because their answers might seem rehearsed and that would go against the candid feel he and Christian were going for. But he also hadn’t had the courage to ask these specific questions before. He hadn’t wanted to know if they had desired to leave this world for the next. But the question had left his lips and there was no drawing it back in.

But both of his parents shook their heads and he felt some tension bleed out of him. They weren’t lying either to spare his feelings either. There was a concrete certainty within both of them that they hadn’t wanted to leave.

“No, it wasn’t time for us. There was a--avoice? I can’t quite explain it adequately.” His mother’s forehead furrowed. “I could tell it was calling the other spirits, but not us.”

“We weren’t ready to go,” his father said. “And it didn’t want us. It wasn’t meant for us.”

Julian shifted a little in his seat. “Was it because your deaths were unexpected?”

“I don’t think so,” his father answered. “There was just this feeling that our fate wasn’t to leave. It wasn’t because we simply desired to keep going, but it felt like there was a bigger plan.”

“When Caemorn brought us back,” his mother said and a camera swung towards the Immortal who stood very still and looked like an angelic master of death, “it was easy to slip back into a body again. It felt right. And then when we realized that we could become Vampires there was this sense…” His mother lifted her hands as if grasping physically at a concept, “thatthiswas what we were meant to do.”

“So you feel that you’re fated to become Vampires?” Julian asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

His father nodded. “Absolutely. I’ve never felt so certain of anything in my life. We’re anchored here.”

“Does the fact that I am one influence you at all?” Julian asked. “I’m sure that families are wondering what they would do if a sibling, a child, a parent or a partner would be chosen to be turned.”

“Leaving you when we did, when you were so young, has affected us,” his father admitted, clearing his throat. His handsome face looked bleak for a moment. “I can’t deny that. The thought of healing that breach, of assuring you that we will always be with you, is important to both your mother and I.”

“But it can’t be the only reason to seek immorality?” Julian prompted.

Both shook their heads.

“We know there’s something more than this life. Not out of faith, but out of fact. We know that for many people the next life is what is waiting for them and where they are meant to go,” his mother explained carefully. She and his father linked their nearest hands together.

“Beyond your sense that you are meant to become Vampires, what else did you consider in making your choice?” Julian asked.

“I also believe there needs to be a deep understanding of what forever means,” his mother said. “We’ve been talking to many of the Vampires of all ages to understand what it's like to have the world you were born into completely disappear without a trace.”

“You have to be able to adapt. Some of the Vampires in this room were born before electricity, let alone motor cars, computers, and cellphones. We had some moments ourselves getting used to the new technology and we were only gone fromthe world for sixteen years,” his father said with a shrug of his broad shoulders.

“From everything the Vampires have told us, you have to embrace change. Want it,” his mother added. “I think our drive for adventure and discovery helps with that. We’re always searching, wanting to know and understand things.”

“So would you recommend that young people--people my and Christian’s age--be the ones that seek to be turned?” Julian asked.

His father grinned at him. “I actually think having more years under your belt is better, in general.”

“I agree,” his mother said. “Though you and the king were fated to be together, I think it would actually be better if most people who were older, older than 30, were chosen. Those who have enough experience of life, perhaps had children already if they wanted them, should be the ones that are turned if they meet the other criteria.”

Julian, in fact, knew that Caemorn and Balthazar had chosen people all over eighteen to attend the first year of the academy. The students were from all age groups, professions, classes and backgrounds. It was very rare for a young person to be chosen for the very reasons his parents had stated.

“Now, you’ve decided that you want to become Vampires, but that’s just the beginning of the choices to be made, isn’t it?” Julian asked them. “There’s the different Bloodlines and, of course, you have to find a Master or Masters that appeal to you and you to them.”

His father nodded. “We’ve been very lucky in that a representative from every Bloodline has offered us a chance to join them.”

“That’s going to be a rare thing though,” Julian stated more than asked.

“Yes, our position as your parents is obviously giving us potentialities that many won’t have,” his mother answered.

“But since we do have this opportunity it’s a pretty incredible thing,” his father said as he rubbed his thumb over the back of his mother’s hand.

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