Chapter 28A Girl Walking

The brother continued, "The letter speaks of contact with the Silver Abbey originated long before the fire. Even with details that we did not have. As it stands now there is little doubt it is genuine in nature. Though we are not sure what it's nature is exactly."

There was a general murmur that was silenced again by a wave of the brothers' hand. "Of course this does not stand in the way of our research. There is still a lot lost from the Silver Abbey we have been unable to restore but troubling news has come forward. The fire was intentional."

The murmur rose. I guess this was a touchy subject. And of course mention of the fire made all doubt vanish about the name. It was the same as mentioned in the book. I looked at Valerie who seemed slightly bored, I guess she hadn't read the book or felt the importance of the name.

Afentis... It kept haunting me.

It took a while before the brother took control again. "People. It has been suggested for quite some time the fire was no accident, but we finally have proof. It mostly comes down to materials, candles and strong drink, left where they shouldn't have been. And they were even more strict then we are now. So there is little doubt about the nature of this. It was intentional."

He smiled grimly. "Of course, we are thankful the Church had finally given us permission start an investigation into the whole situation. I think there has been some change in the higher ranks. It is not uncommon knowledge not everyone approves of what we do."

Silence...

"All this aside, some good befalls us as well. We have been able to capture one of the damned ones. Two of our brothers saw her walking the streets, trying to lure a boy away. No question of what she planned with him."

Murmering again.

"It has been years since we actually captured one of them and even rarer to find a female. We have truly been blessed in our search." He picked up the cup from the altar and moved it behind it. I suddenly had a very avid imagination of what the altar could be used for. "Brothers, move so we may bring her forward."

I saw a slim girl, small compared to the large men holding her, walking towards the room.

Was that khuna?!

The girl had long straight hair, covering her face as she walked with her head bowed. She wore nothing more but a ragged t-shirt and jeans. Her skin milk white and...

Now that the light gave more shine to her hair it seemed so blond as to almost be white. It wasn't Khuna. I sighed with relief.

The girl didn't speak or even move against them. Did she want to die?

Even stranger, I didn't think she was a vampire. I could hear her heartbeat when I focussed on it, even in the drum-gala of all the heartbeats here and the reverb the hall brought. If she was a vampire she was perhaps even younger then me. But I could understand why they thought so. She was unhealthily pale and her hair had a strange sheen to it.

Valerie leaned towards me, her lips so close to my ear her soft voice, almost unheard, was a soft vibration against my ear.

"Not vampire."

I nodded softly but wondered what or who she was. If not a vampire, then what else?

They led her toward the altar, surrounded by mumbling and...

I didn't want to admit it to myself, but more then one face was looking at her appreciatively. Not to say she was ugly, but this seemed hardly the situation to appreciate beauty. Despite the expression on their faces it was not clear what they were going to do to her. My thoughts ran in all directions, from interrogation to murder to... other things.

She seemed fragile, with her body even younger then mine, but her silence demeanor was scaring. There was something about her. She looked human but... Odd. Different.

They led her to the altar where the brother walked forward to her.

He turned her around and spoke. "See here brothers, a damned one in our midst. She has walked the streets and tainted the souls of those she took." He spread his arms. "See how she looks like us, stands among us like one of us yet carries with her the touch of a damned one."

He took a knife from behind the altar, a simple silver looking dagger. Old and worn yet still sharp.

He stood in behind her and raised his hand and then ... hesitated.

"Something is wrong." He said. He walked around her and opened her mouth, checking her teeth.

"She is... not a drinker of blood."