John observed the fireplace, as if inspecting it—

“What is the Red Serpent?” Alex asked.

John turned around and looked at his mother, who sat on a nearby recliner observing the two of them. “Now Mom, this will be a first for you as well, I suppose.”

“Yes, it will be,” Helen paused, “well, you do know who it is, right?”

“You mean no one has any idea what or who this Serpent is?” Alex was intrigued.

“In fact,” said John, “Not even any of the vampires know, except for Anaxagoras.”

“Okay, so we don’t even know what we’re fighting?” Alex said, walking around, trying to digest everything. “I’m guessing he’s the originator of the vampire race, right?”

“You could say that, yes,” said John. “I don’t know his true identity, but I’ve been researching it and I found stories of him amongst the ancient Sumerian scriptures and even from Genesis. He could be the serpent from Genesis.”

“You’re saying it’s the Devil?” Alex smiled. “That’s a little too esoteric for me.”

“Alex, please be serious. I said I’m still researching. What I can tell you is that after the War of the Eight Kings, Anaxagoras was stronger than ever. But he had no heir and wanted to die. But a man came, whom your grandfather called the Red Serpent, and gave him new life through his own blood.”

“I know he killed my father, but...” Alex sighed. “This sounds like something from Shakespeare or a Greek play. I hardly knew my father, and I don’t understand why I have to kill my grandfather. For revenge?”

“Because the prophecy...”

“...because the prophecy says so,” Alex finished. “But if he is my grandfather, there must be another way.” He felt an anger rising up within him. “And why am I being used as propaganda for my father’s rebellious beliefs? Why am I made this ‘god’ who’s supposed to avenge everybody?”

Grandma Howe and John said nothing. They knew he was right. But what could be done about it? This was only the beginning.

John breathed in and smiled with a teary twinkle in his eyes. “Alex,” he said, moving closer to his nephew, “You once told me that you would do anything to see the real Earth, to one day regain what we lost. That,” he grabbed him by the arms, “is not nor ever was your destiny. Your destiny was written by your father and has been told to you by your mother. Nick told me that your father died in peace with a blissful smile on his face because he knew you would be the one to defeat Anaxagoras and save us all. Perhaps that’s why his body never combusted. My theory is that the curse of the vampires never touched him. I truly believe that.” He stretched out his arms and gestured towards the library. “You think you don’t have any reason to kill your grandfather but, when you read these books, you will change your mind. And you may not know your father, but you will now.” With a magnifying glass John deciphered what was written on the right side corner of the back cover of his book. Then he scribbled the number 11113328 on a piece of paper.

“What’s this?” Alex asked as John handed it to him.

“Guess!” his uncle smiled at him, “you should know this number.”

After examining it carefully, Alex realized what it was, “My birthday!” On the note, he placed two dots: 11.11.3328.

“Right.” John smiled. “But this is just the code for that.” He pointed at a gargoyle, which was on top of the fireplace. Alex still couldn’t figure it out. “Mom, do you want to stay here?”

“I think I’ll head back to the hall.” When Grandma got up, she said, “Angel called. She said she had to meet you at the café near the Monolith for lunch.”

He checked his watch. It was already 1:30. “Damn, I forgot.”

“What happened?” asked John.

“Angel had something she wanted to tell me at the party last night and I totally forgot about it after seeing you guys.”

“I hope everything’s alright.” said Grandma.

“I hope so too. Uncle John, I need to go to her.”

John nodded. “But make sure you talk somewhere private.”

“And in any case,” said Alex, “I really need to go to the Monolith and just let it all out.”

“Sure,” John nodded and gave a comforting smile.

The Monolith of Faith was a nine hundred foot stone column that stood in the center of the mega city. It was a tribute to all the different religions, spiritual teachings, and mythologies of the ancient and modern world. People were free to worship in any way they pleased, as long as they were silent in the large inner courtyard. The structure of the complex was intricate: as the worshiper entered the main courtyard, a large door would open and lead him into a large hall. Here was the Great Library, where scrolls from Alexandria, Nalanda, Taxila, and various other ancient centers were preserved. The spiritual teachings of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam and their various respective branches of philosophies, sects and denomination would be available in books and on holodiscs.

After walking through the one thousand yard library, one entered the Worship Room where people of different religions practiced their faiths as they saw fit. Here the great monolith stood, engraved with the thousands of names for God taken from ancient and modern scripts. It was carved mainly out of silver and radiated magically in the night. It truly looked like an object brought down from heaven. This was one of the many places Alex loved to visit. Here, he could pray to his mother or to God and feel at peace. Sometimes he thought he felt his mother’s presence and the divine spirit swirling in the room during his meditations.

Alex’s grandmother had told him to meet Angel at the Café Flamingo. It was one of those regular places where Angel and Alex would go together as a couple to enjoy coffee and cake. Alex loved the espresso the café made and the Dutch Truffle chocolate cake, while Angel would usually order for a Mocha Cappuccino and a Hazelnut Brownie with chocolate ice cream and syrup.

Alex checked his watch as the limo driver stopped near the café. “Thanks, Bill.” He said and hastily got out of the car. It was 2:15 and he was really late. Angel sat outside in the garden area with an impatient look on her face. Alex kissed her on the cheek and then pecked her on the lips. “Sorry I’m late. I didn’t get your message until 1:30. I was a little tied up and I guess Grandma forgot about it.”

“It’s alright,” she smiled one of those smiles that made Alex’s heart melt. “I already ordered some food for us when I saw your limo coming by.”

“What did you order?” He sat down.

“Ah, your favorite: Chicken Parmesan,” she said, smiling and looking deep into his dark eyes.

“Great, what are you having?”

“A steak sandwich and an iced tea.”

Alex looked at her skeptically. “Really? You never eat steak.”

“Well I’m feeling very hungry today,” she said with a wink.

“Okay,” said Alex. “So, what’s been happening?”

She looked apprehensive and sighed. “I really don’t know how to say this to you.”

“Just say it, Angel.” Alex said. “I asked you last night as well and you didn’t tell me anything.”

“You walked away from me,” she said.

“You weren’t saying anything! You know you were like this a while back too.”

“When?”

“Two weeks before the graduation. You had to say something about our life together while I was busy working on my speech.”

“See! It’s always about you. You never ask how I am or what’s wrong with me.”

“I’m asking you right now.” Alex protested.

“You ask it as if you don’t care.”

“Oh! Should I say it like this?” He patronized her, “Oh, honey, what’s the matter?” He scoffed, “I mean, really! You can at least tell me so I can help you out. But, no! Alexander Howe isn’t the right type of guy for you, is he?” He raised his voice. The waiter who had just arrived at the table with their food turned a little pink.

“Alex, keep your voice down. People are looking at us,” said Angel, feeling the spectators’ funny looks on her.