Steopa's Great Grandfather's Diary

Ogden invited us to his house last night. He took us to his library.

You have to see this library. Two stories of books. He has three of those ladder that run on wheels around the room. He has one large desk and an even larger table. The books look old and they feel old. Have you ever been into a room full of old books. There is a smell that comes off them. This room reeks of that.

"I was in Russia last week," he said. He put a small, but thick book on the table. "I bought this off my regular dealer. You might find it interesting."

He gave it to Steopa.

Steopa opened to the front plate. I have been learning Russian, but I could only make out a few words. Steopa closed the book. I could tell he was surprised and a little upset, even though the expression on his face did not change.

"How much have you read?" Steopa asked.

"The entire thing. Is that a relative?" Ogden asked.

Steopa did not say anything.

"It could be fiction," Ogden said.

"Can I have it?" Steopa asked.

Ogden agreed.

After we left and returned home, Steopa showed me the book. "This might be about my great grandfather."

I was surprised, he never talked about him before. "Are you sure?"

Steopa shook his head. "No. I only heard stories from people outside of my family, my father did not say much. But the name of the writer is Matvey. That was my grandfather's name. He told me once that he had written down the last months of his father's life. This could be that document."

"Why didn't you tell Ogden this might be from your ancestor?"

"Because he read it. He already knows the truth."

Steopa wouldn't tell me any more. He locked the book in the safe he uses for the few valuables he has. He won't talk about it. I can tell he wants to, but he won't.

Should I pry?

Sir Ogden Phelps

A private vampire that I met soon after changing is Ogden. He is a strange character, even for us.

He has a lot of money. He lives in the old rich part of the town. His mansion is the real deal, not those Mcmansions. Every time I go there, I feel like I am in England. He doesn't talk much. When he does, he sounds like a school teacher.

This is what I know. I know he had been in India. He has some antiques in his house that would make the guys from Antique Roadshow have heart attacks. Most of them were from when he served in the army as a doctor. He married a Hindu woman. I have seen the photo from their wedding. They looked happy.

I don't know how he ended up in Deerbow City. I have figured out that he had a home and lands in England, but why he left there and came here? I don't know. Steopa says he was one of the first vampires he met when he took over his territory. But Odgen left Steopa alone. They didn't cross paths again until I turned, and then Ogden has been in our lives since then.

He knows magic. I am not talking about "watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat" type. I mean real magic. The kind that you can only achieve in movies with special effects.

He has a bird too.

I think he could be really dangerous. I am glad he likes Steopa and me.

Should we be cautious around him?