Background
The Correspondents
Isadora Lane — A mortal archivist in the kingdom’s Royal Library, tasked with cataloguing centuries of correspondence between the living and the dead.
Callum Ashvere — A vampire lord, one of the Old Ones who predates the kingdom itself.
The World
The Kingdom of Shadows operates under the Accord of Two Bloods, an ancient treaty that grants vampires sovereignty over the night hours and mortals sovereignty over the day. The realm functions in a carefully, enforced balance. It is, by all appearances, at peace.
To access all the letters click here.
Letter 5 (Isadora to Callum)
One week later
Sir Ashvere,
Thank you for your response.
I appreciate that you are trying to protect me from something, or someone. Maybe both. I don’t know. And that’s what’s killing me. There is so much I don’t know.
I deal in facts, historical facts, that line up and tell us about what happened before our time so that we can better understand what is happening now. But nothing is adding up. Nothing!
I have cross-referenced the vault’s contents with the Royal Registry and came up with absolutely nothing to help me understand the existence of a sealed vault hidden in the Royal Library.
The three correspondents, Lord Dorian, Ryker, and Lady Belladonna, who wrote about a secret in the library are not listed anywhere in the records. Not in births, deaths, rebirths, or extinction listings. It is my understanding that as part of our Accord all mortals and immortals must be listed.
Who were these people? I assumed at first that they were vampires because they signed their names in blood, but that may not be the case. They may have used secret identities for protection. So, they could have been mortals using fake names and blood to make it difficult for anyone to find them. Or they could have been people who never bothered to register.
But could they do that?
My understanding is that at the time of the signing of the Accord of Two Bloods everyone had to register. To not do so was a crime punishable by extinction.
So again, I’m left with nothing. Just three letters written by unknown people who refer to a secret hidden in the royal library.
What did they hide? Why did they hide it here? It’s like a secret hidden in a secret, an enigma buried in the basement.
I must know more.
And who are you Callum Ashvere? How do you know about the secret vault? And … what more do you know?
Please, if there is anything you feel you can tell me, please do. I ask not just for my own curiosity, but for the sake of our shared history.
Great philosophers say you cannot understand who you are, unless you understand your past. I believe we cannot understand our world unless we know how it was formed.
I suspect my mortal concerns sound like flies circling a corpse to you, but if you have any of the mortal left inside you, please help me find answers.
With great respect,
Isadora Vane, Archivist
Royal Library
P.S. You asked me about my interests outside of the library. I like hiking in the hills behind the city and reading. I work long hours, so I don’t have much play time, but I love my job and consider myself lucky to have it.
P.P.S., I tried to contact Mrs. Jay to ask her about her son’s death, but she has moved, or so they say.
Letter 6 (Callum to Isadora)
Next day
Mistress Isadora Lane,
You must stop.
Stop asking questions.
The darkness hears everything.
Do not be naïve. History is more malleable than you believe. It is not a compilation of facts. It is a story composed by the living to deal with their past. Consider it therapy if you must. But, for the world’s sake: leave it alone.
There are things that happened the your library was never meant to hold. You seem to be an intelligent young woman. Stop fixating on a closed door.
The door is closed. Locked forever. For a reason.
Regards,
Callum Ashmere,
Vampire
P.S. I am 400 years old. So, I know what I am talking about.
P.P.S., I too enjoy strolling the countryside. I wonder what you read.
I’d love feedback. You can comment below or email me.
Have a great Wednesday.
P.S. Two more letters drop next Wednesday. Will Isadora do as she’s told? Will Callum ever relax? Only time will tell.
Cannot wait for next week's letters