Edited - 11/4/21, 2/5/22

"How many blood drinkers are in Kreta? Brother?" I asked yawning.

We both laid near the fire pit of our home. A lightweight blanket covering my small body. My brother faced away from me. He stared solemnly into the frenzied fire. I placed my hands on his back to get his attention.

My brother spoke honestly, "Just one."

I already might have known, "Father?"

Atekhre turned to face me, He informed, "Islands are not a favored place for vampires whom prefer to stay close to their meals... The humans here have had passing encounters with those like father... But never harboured one until now... What you will see here tomorrow is the product of vampire kin's absence."

"Oh."

Shortly after I fell asleep snuggled up beside Atekhre. Throughout my childhood I always slept beside my brother. He was my protective layer from all the monsters whom stalked the wilds of the night. The monster I should've feared was my lunatic of a father (And in many ways Atekhre whom was father's co-conspirator). Withal I still was a girl who wanted a father figure despite all the warnings. Spiridon was the only father I would ever have. In many ways he would also take up the role as mother.

The next morning I woke in my father's cold lap. My brother was no where in sight nor in our home. He brushed my messy onyx curls away from my face proceeding to kiss my forehead. I smiled hugging him tightly around the neck.

"Father!"

"My beloved Zenobia, You will accompany me today, into the night and tomorrow."

I obeyed, "Yes, Father."

"Very good."

I asked, "What happened to my mother?"

My father was reluctant to answer, "I do not expect a toddler like you to understand... But you do display above average intellect...for a child."

"I hurt mother!" I hid my face in his blood smelling hair.

His rouge eyes narrowed, he answered seriously, rubbing my back, "Your mother died horribly bringing our daughter, you, into this world. Your flesh and blood is Ione's which she gave to you... Don't blame yourself, Your mother would not want you to..."

"Do you miss her?"

My father smiled, Indulging in a half-lie, He may have believed, "There will be a time where I will meet her again... In her next life."

I nodded, "Did she love me?"

"She thought you would be a goddess." Father asked, "Goddesses are loved? Are they not?"

I remembered the muffled sound of my mother's voice. Everything my father claims she had said was true. I shook my head, "I'm not a goddess... I'm a..."

"No, You are Zenobia... My beautiful daughter..." He spoke wisdom, "You are who you wish to be... Remember that."

I laid my head on my father's chest, "But... Atekhre said..."

He kissed my head, "You may have been born as a hybrid... But it doesn't define whom you are inside your heart."

Recalling my own heartbeat, I requested, "My heart beats faster than the humans..."

"Yes, It was the same with your brother... Over time your heart will begin to slow down..."

"Will I die?" I asked frowning.

"I am unsure... However, Your brother Atekhre is over two thousand years old... His heart beat is almost nonexistent... You will go though the same."

I claimed, "You have no heartbeat."

My father replied as if he had someone say this to him before, "I lost mine long ago... After I became a blood drinker."

I insisted, "How did you become a blood drinker?"

Father's off-tan face turned expressionless, as if he was trying to remember, "Its been soo long... I have lost the sense of time and most of my human memories... However I do remember the night I became a blood drinker... I will tell you later... Now let's get you dressed we are going to the city then after that where mother was laid to rest."

I complied as Spiridon picked me up, "Yes, Father."

He dressed me in a small multicolored dress. Leaving the cave we proceeded out into the wilds. The silence of forest permitted the predator's entrance. We eventually came upon a cobbled road father walked this road south heading to our destination.

The sun shown bright in the center of the blue sky. The white clouds moved out of the sun god's path. I looked up at my father to find his skin illuminated from the sun's rays. My own skin shimmered dimly. I waited to say something after we came pass a few humans. We met a few travelers and cattle herders on the way. The passerbys all gave father friendly responses. I found it unnerving for a reason I did not understand.

I asked, "Father, Why does your skin shine in the sun?"

He spoke honestly, "I am a favored son of Ra."

I glanced back quizzically, "uhm... What makes Ra favor you?"

Father spoke wisdom I did not know he had, "Ra favors those that allow his children to prosper though their own children. Humans and animals gain immortality through their children. Though progeny life is never ending. Ma'at taught me this early in my life. I was once their guardian... after teaching them everything I knew I left them to prosper on their own... I was then the teacher of younger blood drinkers and as with the humans I left them... Now I am your guardian."

"But living creatures are your prey! Why would they follow you?"

"The only difference between human and vampire is their physical differences and instinctual behavior. When both are lost they will seek someone of greater knowledge to lead them. That is how great teachers and the divine are born. I may have been banished from my home land but they still follow an adjusted version of the law I taught them."

"But..."

"My confused daughter," Father spoke again, "I am a blood drinker, afterall... I had to teach them how to live... If humans all die, killing each other, soo will the vampires... For you, As it was with Sekhmet... All warm blooded creatures, human or animal will be your supplementation as well... As long as law and order exists so will life."

I guess at the end of the day it did not matter how a vampire or a hybrid fed as long as blood was served.

Atekhre claimed that father was mad yet he had not proved it. My father told me this now himself without ever indicating such. Among the vampire kin my father Spiridon was considered mentally addled. My brother asked me once, What vampire mates with his human meals, sees humans as semi-equals and is picky about his prey?

Nevertheless, If father was not the way he was now Atekhre and I would have never been born. At this time I began to believe my brother loathed himself. Hated that he was born a hybrid. Father's words from earlier rang true. I was born as I am now but it doesn't define whom I am inside my heart. A part of me that is immaterial.

No matter how surreal his thinking was; My father, the son of Ra, believed he was a guardian god of guidance. A shepherd to humans, vampires and hybrids. Maybe in many points of his life he was like that to many.

I had to discover who I am.

We entered the magnificent city with no problems at all. The stone buildings were shaped like rectangles, built from brick and mortar, the entrances supported by columns. Through the streets Women and men went through life's journeys. Their aims in trade, craftsmanship or tribulation.

The palace of Knossos was quite extravagant. It was multi-storied, with cylinder shaped columns painted a dark color, decorated rectangular shaped archways and aquaducts which flowed water through the palace and the irrigation surrounding and within. The interior frescos of animals both natural and mythic, women, men and plants were painted by artists. People and children walked through without much of a disturbance.

Father brought me to a meeting room. Here the frescos displayed a sort of peacock and lion mixed creatures surrounded by native greenery. Sitting upon seating carved from stone were multiple women and a slightly lesser count of men. They all listened to a woman of about forty years. With her two young sons on her right and left she sat upon a throne which was carved from stone. She wore priestess robes and wrap which were similar to the dress of goddess figurine. The people around her spoke as if she was both the high priestess, in lesser ways a queen and the voice of the earth mother. They called her priestess Niobe.

Once father and I entered the room.

Niobe smiled to us both. She welcomed us both, "I am happy to see you both... I have heard many magnificent things about your unique daughter Zenobia, Spiridon."

Father sat across the room facing Niobe. I sat on his lap. Father revealed, "A thousand thanks, Niobe... Even I haven't held my daughter's magnificence yet."

She gawked at me fondly, I felt a little intimidated by this human, She said, "I am Niobe the head priestess of the earth mother. The two boys beside me are my son's Thanasis and his elder brother Troilus."

Thanasis was about ten years of age and Troilus twelve. They seemed scared of me, hating me and admiring all at the same time. Both brothers smiled at me and laughed. They resorted to calling me an annoying baby in whispers to each other. I didn't really care even Atekhre thought the same at one point.

Niobe spoke touching my cheek, "I would like to know more about you, Zenobia. Daughter of young priestess Ione."

What was there to know about me? Her two son's had already gave an answer. I was an 'annoying baby'.

I tempted to negotiate with the high priestess, "Only if you tell me about my mother."

She watched me analysing me. Niobe agreed, "As you wish, Young one."

End of chapter 2.

Author: For those that may be confused when it comes to Egyptian names: Aset is an Egyptian name for Isis and Anpu is the Egyptian name of Anubis. Atekhre is also Atekhra. It probably means something like shining or disc shaped sun. Meanwhile Aset means "Female of the throne." Kreta is the old name for Crete. This fanfiction will have many inaccuracies. First is in ancient Egypt people usually shaved their heads, However since Merenfre/Spiridon is a vampire(we all know what happens during the change) and is from the pre-dynastic Badarian culture I gave him long hair. Second is the catastrophic eruption of Thera. In a history text book I read it happened in about 1700 bc and in a website in 1645 bc.

If you guys ever have any questions don't be afraid to ask and review as you wish. I won't bite. However it will be about chapter 8 until we get to our beloved Aro. Atekhre is the world's first atheist... Lol. I also edited the first chapter.