31: Generation zero

Chocolate covered marshmallows- this was the only thing keeping my patience in check as I sat in front of Liam and waited for him to speak. He'd wasted ten minutes of my time already, as he tried to collect his thoughts. And so, as another minute passed by, I placed another marshmallow into my mouth. It was then that Liam finally smiled and then began speaking.
"Do you remember the night we first came here?" He asked.
I blushed at the mention of it and uttered, "I don't think I could possibly forget.
He chuckled in response and then continued, "Then you'll remember that I told you that my parents and Xavier's are part of the first generation of vampire nobles, and that I am part of the second generation. Well, there was another generation I might have forgotten to mention."
"Might have?" I retorted with a raised brow.
Liam chuckled and then said, "Clearly nothing gets past you, my little pet." And then he reached out, placed his hand in my packet of marshmallows, retrieved one and shoved it in my mouth. "Now, why don't you just let me do the talking, hmm?"
I nodded, chewing on the sweet cloud of goodness and listened as he spoke.
"The noble lineage is very rare and very exclusive as I'm sure you already gathered. We literally account for two percent of the entire vampire population, with the ninety eight percent comprising of those vampires who were turned, half-bloods, or those from any other impure lineage. There is, however, and even rarer type of vampire belonging to an ancient lineage. These vampires are known as Generation Zero. Now for you to understand Generation Zero vampires, you need to understand the history of vampires. Long ago before the word 'vampire' existed, was a small group of creatures who, by far exceeded humans in speed, strength and regeneration ability. These creatures relied on feeding on human blood to allow them to properly function, they were also occasionally consumed by bloodlust, earning them the reputation of the world’s deadliest killers. Both the supernatural world and human world co-existed in 'harmony', and believe it or not, werewolves and vampires actually got along. In fact, they got along so well that mating between the two species was not uncommon and for a long period of time, the world was filled with many people exactly like you." I found this part particularly hard to believe. A world full of hybrids? Such a thing seemed impossible.
"But peace did not last forever. Eventually vampires and werewolves alike began to fear the hybrids and the immense power they possessed. Eventually, the result of this fear was an all-out war with vampires and werewolves working together to rid the world of the hybrids. The battle was bloody and brutal and left no hybrid survivors. Of the original Generation Zero vampire purebloods remained only five vampires: Thomas Trafford, Fiona Howard, Gabriel Howard, Maria Chase and... Sebastian Dragović."
My entire world froze at the mention of his name. I couldn't believe it. In fact, I *refused* to believe that Sebastian could have played any part in the deaths of people who were just like me. It was horrific and barbaric and yet something I believed, deep down, Sebastian to be capable of. It seemed, however, that Xavier and Liam's family weren't all that innocent either.
"So, your grandparents-"
"-Don't call them that. The only living Generation Zero vampire is Sebastian. The others died shortly after raising the first Generation of vampires."
"Raising them?" I asked.
Liam nodded, and then said, "Yes. At the time of the conclusion of the war, the first generation of vampires were still young and inexperienced. Thomas, Fiona, Gabriel and Maria dedicated their lives to raising them. As stated in the treaty, the vampires raised the first generation to hate werewolves in fear of another hybrid war."
"What about Sebastian?" I asked.
"No one really knows. It was said that he retired his position as a noble the day the war ended and then disappeared. The only time he returned was when the news of the deaths of the four vampires broke out. He returned, begging to be re-instated as a noble, to offer guidance and wisdom to the vampire nobles, but the Vampire Council refused and instead made him a servant vampire. Powerless against the council, he resorted to taking this pitiful title. It is, however, still mysterious, how he disappeared after the war. For centuries we've tried to pry answers from the man, but no one has been successful. All everyone is his coldness... well, everyone except you."
It took a moment for me to process everything Liam had just told me. First of all, Sebastian was an ancient pureblood noble. Could that perhaps explain his immense strength?
Second, and most difficult to wrap my head around, Sebastian was involved in a war to kill hybrids like me. This little fact had me in a confused little mess, making me wonder if Sebastian's intentions with me were pure. Sebastian had never ever given me a reason to distrust his desire to help me succeed... but Liam had. Why did Sebastian hide such a huge secret from me, and why did he disappear after the war?
"Phoenix?" I heard Liam utter, immediately bringing me out of my thoughts. "There are other secrets that have been kept from you, but I'm afraid this is all *I* can say."
All he could say? Then perhaps there was someone else who could enlighten me further. And when I thought this, Demetri soon came to mind. He also seemed to be hiding his fair share of secrets and I wondered for a moment, if it had anything to do with Sebastian. After all, they did seem to know each other quite well.
"I have to go and see someone!" I said as I began to stand up.
Liam, however, grabbed at my hand and tugged at me, making me fall onto his lap. I stared up at him, confused and flustered. I didn't want to touch him, because touching him led to all sorts of misbehavior.
"So that's all you wanted from me?" He asked.
"Well, yes, wasn't it obvious?" I asked.
He arched a brow and then said lowly and leaning towards me, "My information isn't free, little pet. You owe me."
--
Sebastian clearly has a lot to explain. Was it guilt which kept him away after the war... or something else? What about Demetri, where does he fit into all of this? So many questions... and so many surprises lay waiting.
Stay safe! Stay healthy! Sending my love!