Popular belief has it that the universe is comprised of atoms. In reality, the universe is actually made up of…

The argument had gotten out of control and the sluicegates of Kanaan Undergrove’s reserves opened up and he unleashed a torrent of insults on his son, giving voice to all the negative things a parent might secretly feel but should never reveal to their child.

Communication had ceased between them for well over a fortnight until Thaddeus was summoned to the hallway just outside the family trophy room by his father. It came as a shock to no one that the young lad still harbored ill feelings.

“My father never apologized to me when he was in the wrong,” Kanaan began. “This created a rift between he and I that has never been repaired. I do not wish the same thing to happen to us. In thinking back on our disagreement, I accused you of being a ne’er do well child. This has plagued me for ne’er do well is not something that you or any child ever actually is, it’s something foolish that parents might say about them out of anger.

“Your mother, ever the calmer head, suggested that I stop hanging my expectations on you and allow you to develop your own expectations. She has faith that you will eventually grow to be a responsible adult. But as patience has never been my strong suit, I have decided to take matters into my own hands.”

Kanaan brings his wayward son to the family trophy room.

“I thought I was forbidden to enter this room, father?” Thaddeus questions.

“Do you believe me so naive as to think this your first time being here?” Kanaan cuts his boy a look.

The younger Undergrove will not confirm his father’s suspicions, but the old man is correct. Despite repeated warnings to stay clear of this room, Thaddeus slips into this fascinating space whenever he is alone in the house and rummages through the numerous chests, cupboards, display cases containing Old World treasures, and inspects the various taxidermied creatures which cannot be found in any nature book.

Kanaan sweeps his arm across the room and says, “None of these items are why the room is off-limits,” as he makes his way to a wall-mounted plaque. On the side of the plaque, he activates a mechanism that opens a door to a stone stairwell leading down to the secret chamber of The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Coupe de Sang.

Translated as “The Fraternity of Knights of the Blood Cup”, it is an exclusive brotherhood of vampire slayers founded in the early 1700s after a group of daring individuals drove from hiding a mysterious man who paid nightly visits to respectable and pious maidens and drank their blood by giving them the seductive kiss of evil in order to prove that his unholy religion was stronger than their Christianity.

To counter the ghoul’s claims, the chevaliers slew the beast and drank his tainted blood to demonstrate his curse held no power over their belief in God. This action had the curious and unexpected result of extending the lifespan of the founding knights, who, although not truly immortal, lived long enough to bury over one hundred generations of descendants.

The Confrérie, as it exists today, is governed by a Grand Conseil of Chevaliers who are charged with approving candidates for membership. The novitiates must single-handedly slay a vampire in the chevaliers’ presence before they can be knighted by sipping undead nectar from the cup stained with the blood of the first vampire.

Thaddeus has yet to come face to face with a vampire, let alone slay one, but that does not prevent him from stealing his way into this sub rosa hall for a wee dram from the goblet. Unfortunately, what began as a taboo pleasure has now become an irresistible craving for a drink that mere sips from a cup can no longer satisfy.

And unbeknownst to the young lad, he is beginning a transformation into a thing that will not age, does not need food to eat or air to breathe. And when his father learns what Thaddeus has done, he will become quite cross and kill him, literally.