I’m so tempted to go see your grandma. She’s so close.

Is she okay? I heard about Grandpa a couple of years ago. I hope she’s not lonely. She and Dad...they had that kind of love you always read about, you know?

Is that what you’ve found with this immortal?

Is it even possible?

You’re twenty-five now. I’ve missed so much of your life. Even the hints I get now, the reports and the notes, they’re not enough. I just need to be sure he can be trusted.

I have to be sure.

Love,

Dad

Brasilia, Brazil

March 2008

Dear Beatrice,

Okay, game played. Did you follow the clues? Can you find me?

Please find me.

I’ll wait for you.

I’ve found some new avenues for research. I finally understand the basics of this manuscript, but the alchemy is still beyond me. There’s just not enough research done on vampire biology. I may contact that doctor in Dublin if I can. Maybe he would be able to make better sense of this.

I just know that there’s a piece I’m missing. Something doesn’t quite fit. It seems like it should work, but if it does, then why does he want it? The more I learn, the less sense it makes.

Back to my books.

Love,

Dad

Brasilia, Brazil

August 2008

Dear Beatrice,

This is the last time I’ll write in these journals. I was stupid to depend on a game we played when you were a child. It wasn’t fair of me.

I’m leaving Brazil, but in case you ever find this place, I’ll leave my journals here. Where I am going, it’s best not to bring them anyway.

There is an elder I need to see. I don’t trust him personally, but I think I can trust him with the manuscript. I think, from what I’ve learned, he may be my best chance to keep the book safe from Lorenzo, and to help me make sense of all this.

I’m leaving tomorrow. August 8, 2008.

I’m going West to the East. You know me; I like to be in my element.

Find me, Mariposa.

Love,

Dad

The End