Chapter 197: Leave or Talk
"I think it’s high time the Leviathan pays his rent and tells us what he knows about this book." Ash growled.
"Agreed." Oliver butted in.
"I was thinking the same thing, and that’s the other reason I called this meeting. I want to threaten him, give us answers, or leave, we’re done hosting someone who can’t help when there is this much at stake." Rosa added.
"Wow, look at you, miss manipulative, I didn’t know you had it in you." Oliver winked. Jeremy looked like he was about to climb over the table and rip Olivers eyes clean out of his skull.
Oliver just laughed it off. Completely unconcerned with his brother’s threat.
"So, it’s agreed, we make him talk or kick him out?" Ash confirmed
"What about Lilith?" Oliver asked the very real question everyone was silently wondering.
"If she doesn’t stand by us, then she can leave too. This isn’t about good dick; it’s about getting my granddaughter back." Vlad growled more aggressively than he intended too.
Vlad has kept most of his thoughts to himself regarding the kidnapping of his granddaughter and the transformation of his daughter-in-law.
But in truth, he was ripped apart inside. He loved his little princess. Spoiled Odette whenever he was in town. He was so proud of his her, he had the strongest little girl in the world, in his eyes. She was the poster child for perfect well-mannered vampire princess.
And Violet was more than he could have ever hoped in a daughter-in-law. Beautiful, strong, warm, and the perfect balance to his hot headed, stubborn, cold son. And Violet’s transformation scared the hell out of him. He’d never met anyone so blood thirsty before and he’d been around for a long time. She was a completely different person, and now it explains it. She was possessed. An ancient god was literally inside her sharing her body with her. and now had complete control over her. She just disappeared and no one has heard from her. And a rise in missing persons from their territories was higher than it’s ever been. And Vlad felt the two were interconnected somehow.
And knowing about a prophecy now one that involves both his daughter and granddaughter. A war between the two. It was so much to take in, in such a short time. He’s just had to stuff the fears and pain down and focus on finding them both. Maybe preventing a war but definitely being ready for it.
"So, it’s settled, we kick them both if there’s refusal." Jeremy asked.
"Yes." Vlad said firmly. He wasn’t going to let his mother pick a man over her family and get away with it.
Together with the book they left the room and went straight to the tv room, and sitting on the couch was the Leviathan. Watching some lame doctor series.
"Leviathan, do you know anything about this book?" Jeremy asked tossing him the book before he could answer.
And when he looked down his eyes nearly popped out of his head and he shot up quickly looking at all of them intensely "Where did you find this book?"
The five of them exchanged looks of confusion.
"Agree to answer our questions about the book and I’ll tell you." Jeremy bargained.
"Answers for answers. I’ve never had the luxury of such an exchange." The Leviathan grinned.
He liked being surprised, and this was a loophole he could exploit.
"Deal. Ask your questions, I will take my payment at the end." He grinned.
"What language is this in?" Jeremy asked.
"Spirit. My native tongue, the first language." He spoke quick with no hesitation.
"Spirit? I’ve never heard of that." Vlad and Jeremy practically spoke at the same time.
"That’s because you’re not old enough to ever see it before the language was pulled from the world. This book, it’s been missing for some time, and I wonder how it slipped through my grasp and ended up here." He chuckled rubbing the book. "It was written by a friend before he moved worlds and died of a broken heart."
He remembered Theodore and it wasn’t often the Leviathan felt sad, but this was one of them.
"What is this book?" Jeremy asked.
"It’s a historic account of the first war. From a group of people no longer here. But still live in my world, free of the burdens of mortals, but aging so slowly time seemed to freeze for them."
"Why are you speaking in riddles?" Oliver questioned.
"You never said how I should give you answers. Your questions are very vague. Easy to dance around." The Leviathan joked.
"What’s the first war?" Ash demanded more than he asked.
"The truth none of you know." He grinned.
"You are a manipulative little shit, you know?" Ash growled.
"I know." He snickered.
"How can we unlock the book and read it?" Jeremy moved to the next question.
"You can’t, only one of the original 3 races can. It’s in the same language of the gods. The magic is the book. It’s a living spell. It can’t be broken, or the book disappears forever." The Leviathan was more forthcoming with his answer this time.
"Will you open it and translate it?" Jeremy asked, he tried to hide his anxiety, he was nervous the Leviathan would make things more difficult for them.
"I can read it to you, but I cannot put transfer it. The spell will not allow me to rewrite this book anywhere in any language. It’s forbidden." The simple direct answers were much preferred by the brothers. Time was thin, they had to be ready for whatever was coming.
"You will?" Oliver raised his eyebrow in surprise.
"Yes, let’s just say, you finding the loophole, knowledge I do not possess. It is a worthy deal." He sounded so casual and a little too friendly.
"Now it’s my turn." He smiled. "When I read this to you, can you swear to handle the truth with dignity and adjust accordingly?" He looked more to Vlad than anyone else.
They were all surprised, that wasn’t the question they expected.
"Yes." They all answered,
"This book, it just appeared to you somewhere. Where?" He asked.
"My personal library." Jeremy answered.
"Will you take me there?" He asked.
"Yes, if I must." Jeremy grumbled.
"You must." He answered.
"Fine. Is that all your questions?" Jeremy gripped.
"No, I’ll save the rest for after I read you a bedtime story."