They were waiting for me in the common room.
The common room was a broad open chamber with a low domed ceiling and circular seating recessed in the floor. The chandelier suspended over the white leather sofa was comprised of hundreds of crystal teardrops that shimmered with a pleasant tinkling sound whenever the air conditioning kicked on, casting glinting reflections across the walls. Like most of Paulo's home, the aesthetic here was smooth curved lines, flat glossy surfaces and a lack of ornamentation. And lots of light. The room was awash with light, tuned to the spectrum of natural sunshine. I expected it to sting my eyes, as I always did, but there was no pain. The last time I had visited, Sunduk explained that the bulbs were specially designed to emit only visible wavelengths. It was the ultraviolet, he informed me, that caused our mutated eyes so much discomfort.
They all fell silent when I strode into the room, looking at me expectantly.
I saw no judgment in their faces. Just love. Acceptance.
I attempted levity to conceal my discomfort. "What's going on? Is this an intervention or something?" I asked, doing my best impersonation of an American stand-up comic.
My Brooklyn accent was flawless, but the joke fell flat.
Paulo rose from the couch and gestured for me to join them. He was a glorious sight, as always, in his gleaming white clothes. His hair, a mass of golden ringlets, shimmered every bit as brightly as the chandelier overhead. "It is time, father," he said. "Come, join your family. Unburden yourself."
My vampire child, as handsome as his namesake! I considered this man, this ancient blood drinker, one of my few uncompromised successes. Hard to believe, looking at him now, knowing all that he'd accomplished in his life, that he was once a dirty, vengeful, violent slave-child. The Blood does not always corrupt. It helped to be reminded of that. Sometimes I do good. Sometimes I am a maker, not just a destroyer.
The others murmured their agreement, all but Zenzele, who sat apart from the rest, watching me silently.
I nodded hesitantly, then walked forward and descended the three steps to the sitting area.
I took my place among the circle.
I told my tribe my story.