Soon after David left I began to think of my family and how I had left them behind while in a daze of wonder at what I was seeing. I began to think of my wife June and how her hair blew in the wind when she ran. I thought of our quaint little flat in Paris and how she would miss me. These thoughts were so upsetting that I was seized by an untamable sense of grief and longing, a longing to be home in my little flat to hold my wife and live my daily life; but another part of me wanted to stay for this was undoubtedly the most exciting time I had ever had. After I had regained my composure I resolved to explore my new surroundings and to find out more about this mysterious vampire and the power of which he spoke. As I wandered the halls of this building that appeared to me so very elegant and yet somewhat strange as if this place was only a reflection. After about an hour of wandering through the halls I found a makeshift library. I want in and found that it was full of books of all kinds, from romance to history to fiction. I was fascinated by the years upon years of history that I found. As I searched through the books I found a leather bound tome that had the title faded off and all the pages were yellow and brittle. I opened it and began to read, it was a record of the times when there was color in this world, in the margins of most of the pages there was allot of writing but as I began to look I noticed that it was beginning to get dark. I thought to myself that this could help me unravel why David said that I had power to bring about a change in this world and how exactly I might go about doing that.
After I returned to my room I saw David sitting in a high-backed chair in the corner of the room. He said where have you been. I’ve been waiting for an hour. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting; I was just wandering the halls when I found a library and decide to look around and lost track of time I’m sorry. I replied. Well no matter you’re here now. Now where were we? You were going to explain my role in this plan of yours. Ah yes now I remember; well as I said you have the power to help unite our world and can take the best characteristics from both our races while taking very little in appearance. As I said when you reach your full power you will become, for all intents and purposes part vampire, part ghoul, and finally part human. You have already inherited your vampire traits for me and they will develop as time goes on and you will have few changes but you will have two traits that all vampires have first you will gain enhanced senses and strength, and your eyes will have a certain … luster to them. But now I can see that your strength has recovered, you must not stay here. I must prepare you for the long journey ahead. He said. Wait what journey? Where must I go? Patience my friend, I will explain it in a moment for now pack your things. You will find two fresh changes of clothes in that trunk in the corner. I will return in a moment. As I packed the clothes that had been provided for me I marveled at their beauty I thought that surely they weren’t fit for me that only a prince or a royal was fit for these fine garments. Just as I finished gathering what few possessions that I had and the clothes I had been given I began to wonder where I would be going and I wondered if I would ever see David again.  

A few minutes later when David returned; He had a rolled up piece of parchment and a sack filled with dried meats, breads, cheeses, flour and other food stuffs, he also had what to me looked like a bed roll. I asked David, where am I to go? You my friend are bound for the human capital Ciudad Del Cielo; The gateway to the sky. I have marked its location on this map. You see there are others in this world that have worked hard to keep things the way they are; where no creativity my flourish, where no life exists. Ciudad Del Cielo was once a beautiful place full of life, it was said that when one journeyed to that city that they made a choice that they would stand by for all their lives. It was known as the city of passion. On your journey there you should stop in to my friend’s house he will assist you as to the customs and as to who you will need to speak to for help on discovering the history of this and your role in the world’s salvation. I cannot help you further than giving you that book and pointing you in the right direction; but if you are truly willing to help us you need to go to see my friend William. He lives near your destination. He’ll help you locate a place to stay in the city and the people who can assist you further in your discoveries. Although you won’t be able to completely understand until you meet the historians of the ghouls. For they have been here since long before the vampires and humans. You will leave at sun up and do not stop until you reach William’s house; if by chance you are caught far from William’s then start a fire the biggest you  can make and bed close to it to keep those of us who would do you harm.

As I set out on the long journey that lay ahead I wondered if I would see David again; and if this William fellow really knew what I needed to do and who I needed to speak to. As I followed the road marked on the map I came to a fork in the road that hadn’t been marked on the map so I consulted the map and saw that I was about half a league to the east of William’s house. As I went on my way I was still in awe that there was no color to be found in this world. As I neared William’s I saw that he had a quaint little cottage with a roof tiled with what one imagines as Spanish tiles. It was made from what looked like limestone bricks and it appeared that they were held together by a shimmering material I had never seen. As I stood there in puzzlement as to what that beautiful substance was I noticed an old kindly looking man, with balding hair and a slight crook in his back; walk out of the cottage. I said; Hello there! The old man must have not heard me so I shouted Hello there! This time he replied who are you may I ask. I am James I was told to seek you out; you are William are you not? Yes I am but this is puzzling me who has sent you my good lad? David sent me he said that I could get some information from you and you might provide me a place to spend the night. Ah, so it was David that sent you. Well my good lad come into the house and lets have some tea. As I followed him into the house I noticed he was an accomplished gardener; he had roses of every color one could imagine and then he had ivy growing up the walls of his cottage. I thought, how beautiful! Once we were in the house I noticed that he had few possessions save for a bed and a cupboard to store some food and flatware.

As we entered his kitchen William put a kettle on and sat down at the table with me and said; Well James what can I help you with. I was told by David that I should see you about how to find information on what happened to this land and my role in it he told me that I had power… power to unite the races. Ah, so he’s dragged you into it has he. Well lets see what I can do for you…hmmm well first you need a place to stay wont you? Well for the time being you can stay here if you’d like but in the city you will need to find a hostel, I suggest the Green Dragon it is a remotely cheap in that has decent lodgings and food. And as for information you should go to the Archives in the palace. There you should seek out Vicente Voltaire; he can help you find what you seek but beware my child, for there are dangers and customs with which you are not familiar. But ah I have prattled on for far too long and the tea is done. Lets have some tea and then you have had a long day you should rest.

The next day when I woke I remembered the dream I had clearly, there was a girl, she was locked in a dungeon, and even through the rags she was wearing and her dirt smeared face I could tell that she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. The last thing I remembered before I woke was a thin trickle of blood running from her mouth and seeing her eyes open.

After I woke and realized where I was I saw William sitting in a corner looking worried and slightly relieved. James… are you feeling well?  Yes, why?  You were thrashing about and muttering things, things that worried me something about a girl and torture and then you woke. I was going to ask you something William; in this land is there magic? James, yes there is; but why the interest all of a sudden? We’ll get to it wait a second. Now on to my second question is there a magic that lets you see other things or people? Yes, but you can only, as far as I know, see like that through seeing stones and in this day they are increasingly rare. Well now I will get to your question and explain another one I had in the process; I was muttering because I had just had the most vivid dream I had ever had; I was dreaming I saw a girl, in a dungeon or prison of some kind, she had been badly beaten, so I am to assume that, that is why I was muttering about a girl and torture and on to the thrashing, well as I dreamt this I had a need or an uncontrollable desire to save her and get her out of harm. Now for my question, is it unheard of to “see” in dreams without a seeing stone?  Jason…you ask of things you shouldn’t have any understanding of with absolute certainty that they exist and that your right, why? I ask because I still feel the need to help her; and if there is a way I can I must try. Well you seem honest in your intent, so I will tell you, no its not unheard of but this land reaches far and there are many old castles and prisons that have been long since abandoned and it could be in any one of them. So if it is your intent to help this woman whoever she may be or whatever she may have done, I must tell you its nigh hopeless. I still must try I could never forgive myself if I didn’t.