"This conversation is long past overdue, Seth. We've put it off for a few hundred years now...because first off, we wanted to observe you. Secondly, both Ursala and I were concerned as to what might happen with you upon these revelations." Beren batted the cat gently with his fingers and it mosied itself out the door. "I want you to just sit an' listen to what I have ta say. You can ask questions after. Gerda is here because in many respects she is part of this too - an' she knows the whole story...all too well." Beren continued. "A very long time ago, Ursala and I had a child - a son. Our only child. He was an exceptional being - half fey and half human...a born vampire. A rather unusual in this realm or the one out there. He was trained up in the ways of the wolf-kin by the masters of this tradition, as was Gerda and her brothers. Our son and Gerda were very close - so close that eventually, they became lovers. We fully expected that they would be joined one day, but that was not to happen. "No one of us is certain what transpired or why it happened. It's been hypothesized that the beast inside took him over. In many ways, he became much like Sebastian - uncontrollable - only worse. He was like that all the time and not just when the moon was full. He was vicious and feral, like Evie used to be. But at least she had Stavros to calm her. Our son would listen to no one. He broke every law and rule laid down by both his mother and I, as well as those of the wolf-kin. The UnDead rose as a body in revolt, because he was 'the prince' of the clan and supposed to set an example. They wanted him dead...the final death. The wolf-kin disowned him. He was a rogue with no master, and no respect for anything or anyone. He became greatly feared by both the Fey and the UnDead. "Were it not for our kinship and friendship with the Fey lairds, we would have been at the mercy of the entire UnDead clan. The Fey were good enough to come to our aid. It was Gwidion, Mab, Magnus, Morgan, Angus and myself who finally caught him. But killing him was more than his mother or I could bear. We put a charmed dagger in his chest and locked him in a coffin - put him to sleep for a long time. When the UnDead learned of this, they did revolt. There were the Fey-Vampire Wars. We ended up slaying a great many vampires, many of whom had been our allies in the war against Gerda's uncle - whose name we do not speak. "To make a very long story short, Seth.... You are our son. When we came here, we brought you with us. We woke you here. I made you forget everything - wiped your mind clean of the past and in it's place, gave you another life to 'remember'." Beren paused here, shifting in his seat, staring into space. The words came slowly now. "The thing that concerned us is how you would feel toward us for what we did to you. Understand - we had no choice. You left us no choice. So, now you know...my son. Believe me when I say, I like being able to say that. Your mother and I both love you - more than you could ever know. Gerda...is this not all true?" "Aye, milord - every word. Maybe I'll tell ya my side of it too...that is to say 'our side of it'. Maybe. If I can stand ta dredge it up again. You hurt me in so many ways, Seth. Ya broke your mother's heart too. I ain't sayin' all that to make you feel bad, but it's just the truth. But you aren't like that any more Seth, so you can't go takin' this as applyin' to the man you are now. Don't, or it'll destroy you." "Wise words, Gerda," Beren said. Seth just sat there, all this information roiling through his head - stunned. He was filled with a thousand emotions all conflicting and tearing at him. "I...I don't know what to say," he finally muttered. "I'm goin' back to the house to be with Auntie Ursie. I'll leave you two alone," Gerda said, rising from her seat. She waved her hand and she was gone. ***** Now you know! Thanks for looking and your lovely comments my dears! Cheers, Rayvn