Disclaimers: Nope, I don't Van Helsing or Drac, but everyone else, I made up. I think. As for the inspiration, the Engine of Creation deal I got from Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda (eppy#216, "In Heaven Now Are Three"). I sorry for stealing it, but it was so cool!! Also, the Vamp ceremony bit I took from Underworld. But that's all… I think.

Southern Sahara, Africa

The desert, Lukas mused, was like his own race; by day, a desolate, sleeping wasteland, unworthy and apparently empty of life. But when night fell, it belonged to the night creatures. Like the deepest reaches of the ocean, life existed where there was no sun… Even if it DID feed on the products of that evil force.

Lukas was a tall, handsome man, appearing to be in his early thirties. His dark hair was fashionably short for the period, eyes a penetrating green. No one would have guessed was approaching his 220th year. He was a vampire, one of the immortal race humans had made into monsters. Some open-minded vampire scholars realized that it was probably their species taste for human blood (of which there was plenty in stock) that caused it, but most vampires hated their genetic cousins. The same could be said of the Werewolf population or Lycans as they liked to call themselves these days. They had discovered ways to control their never-ending rage, some even developed the ability to shift at will, whether the moon was full or not. None of them had yet discovered the cure, a bargaining chip the lead vampires kept secret incase they might need to placate the stupid beasts at some point in the future.

But it would all come to an end soon. As soon as his brethren arrived, they would release the Father and put their plan in motion.

Lukas was finally joined in the lonely region of the Sahara by six others, the oldest and wisest of the Nosferatu that made up the Great Council. The seven slowly descended into the ancient temple that they had managed to keep secret from the nosey human archeologists for hundreds of years.

It was here where Lukas, the Father's only surviving child, buried his remains after the Eternal Enemy destroyed him.

The thought of the man who had almost, single-handedly, brought down their entire race made the young vampire's blood boil.

Amalia, another council member, though an old bag at 500, glanced at him with raised eyebrows. The look was clear: can you handle this? Lukas unclenched his fists and returned her look with one of disdain. His message was equally clear: if I managed to bury him here as an infant, I think I can handle it now. The woman merely shrugged and turned away to adjust her cloak.

Lukas was relieved when they reached the Chamber, where he had returned to give the Father the proper burial he could not before. But it was all the past; now the Father would live again, and together they would defeat the Eternal Enemy and reshape the world as their own. He would have to take steps to find the Device before the Father was fully awakened; no doubt he would be eager to reclaim his throne as Lord and Master of the Vamperic realm.

The seven removed their cloaks and positioned themselves for the ceremony, Lukas closest to the dead shell that was once the beginning of their race. He slit his thumb and closed his eyes, focusing his memories and knowledge of the past two hundred years into one chronological mass. Amalia and the others had trained him in this method, after they had decided he should be the one to do it. He finally let his blood flow into the stone collection bowl, into a network of crystal tubes before reaching the Great one himself. The others began chanting an ancient rite, stopping when Lukas opened his eyes. Now all there was to do was wait.

Please R&R, tell me how you liked it! Or didn't. Whatever, flames are welcome, but please don't go too hard on me!