by Jeff Schanz
“My father’s mother was a Romanov. Only a distant cousin to the Czar, but the name held weight, which helped my acceptability to the Kushkins. The match was approved by both families and the wedding was set for six months later. The more we saw each other, the more we both couldn’t wait. One afternoon we were walking in the woods ahead of our chaperones and we decided to steal away for a discreet kiss. Well, one thing turned into another and we ended up doing more than that. We were both virgins and it was quick, and for me a little painful. We were ashamed, but we also craved more. We made excuses to our chaperones that we had gotten lost and were forgiven.
“Weeks later, we had another opportunity. This time at a ball in a duke’s mansion. We went upstairs and found an empty room. It was dark and exciting. He made love to me. I had no idea what I was doing and we couldn’t help ourselves. I didn’t realize it would happen when my fangs came out. My mother hadn’t explained that to me. She thought she had time before the wedding night. I was drunk with blood ecstasy. I bit him. He didn’t stop me, or couldn’t, and I couldn’t stop myself. It was an amazing feeling that I can’t describe, and I hesitate to advertise, but it was entirely intoxicating. I was delirious and couldn’t stop, Brandt. Nothing else mattered to me except taking all of him. And I didn’t realize what I had done until it was too late and he was nearly dead. He had allowed me to drink away his life. I panicked. I was young and stupid and thought I knew what could fix it. So I gave him my blood by biting my wrist and letting the blood drizzle into his mouth. I justified it to myself that I was doing the right thing. I reasoned that he loved me, and he would find out that I was a vampyre sooner or later, and then he would want to live a long life with me and be a vampyre too. We would be happy. I was convinced it was a good thing. He ingested my blood, enough to turn him, and he survived. And was a vampyre.
“And he despised me for it. The marriage was canceled. We never spoke again. He was eventually hunted and killed for being a vampyre. Our families hated each other. They reported us to the authorities and my father had to hide us again. I destroyed someone’s life because I couldn’t hold back. I vowed to never do that again.
“Human blood is addictive, Brandt. Like no other blood. Like a narcotic, that once you start, it is very difficult to stop. I cannot allow that to happen to me again. Can you understand?” It wasn’t an admonition, it was just an explanation. Her voice was gentle.
“Yes. I honestly can.”
Lia nodded and smiled subtly. “Human blood is always a temptation for every vampyre. I've learned to control the urges, but it is still difficult sometimes. I even briefly considered taking some of the blood you had given me for my experiments – for myself. Just briefly. The desire can be powerful.”
“Only mine? Why not the bad guys’ blood?”
“No. They disgust me. Just yours. But I didn’t, and I won’t. It is far too dangerous.”
Brandt lifted his brows. “I was that delicious?”
She tried to stifle a snicker. “I have had very little human blood to base it on, but – your blood is very powerful. Does that bother you, or make you feel better?”
“You kidding? My blood kicks ass? I’ll take that.”
She smirked. “Your need to joke about awkward things is so remarkable to me.”
“It’s a character flaw. But it keeps me alive and healthy.”
She rolled over and gave him a curious stare. “I prefer you alive and healthy, too.”
Lia sat up a little and stretched her legs out straight. Brandt had the curious idea that she was testing something out. The more he looked at her in the candlelight, the more she looked unnatural. It was like she was even smoother and more ethereal than she had ever been. Did his blood do all that? And he also hadn’t noticed her breathe. Was she just so calm that her breathing was subtle?
Lia cocked her head, apparently sensing his confusion. “Is something wrong?”
“No. It’s just – you seem a little different.”
Her reaction was even more curious. She grinned broadly. “It took you a long time to notice.”
“It did? I mean – huh? What are we talking about?”
She looked amused. “You really don’t know?”
He hated questions like that. With some girls, it preceded statements like: “I’m pregnant,” or “I’m married,” or “I’m a guy. You didn’t know?”
She crossed her legs Indian fashion and straightened up as best she could in the cramped space. “This is my projection,” she said proudly.
“Your…?” Brandt was utterly bewildered. At first, he thought he misheard. Then he thought he misunderstood the explanation for projections in Lia’s vampyre book. And then another thought dawned on him. A horrible thought. “Oh, my God. You did die! You’re undead now?”
“No, no,” she said with a placating hand. “I’m fine. Better than fine, actually. I’ve been practicing projecting my essence out of my body for years. I have been only able to go up and down the hall for a few minutes at my best. It is very difficult and frustrating as a living vampyre, so I don’t do it much. But tonight – tonight I feel incredible. Better than I’ve ever felt.”
Brandt had no idea what to say. “Where is your – uh, your real body?”
“In my bed. I’m in a deep trance. That’s the only way it works. It’s the first time I’ve ever been able to leave the house. And since I came this far, I thought I should come by and apologize to you.” Despite being a projection, her face flushed. “As I said, your blood is very powerful.”
Brandt was impressed. A bit freaked out but impressed.
“So I’ve given you a power trip?”
She shrugged. “Yes, in a way.”
“And now you’re wishing you could have some more of my awesome blood?”
She rolled her eyes and made a smirk. Then she dropped her gaze and smiled sheepishly. “Of course I wouldn’t, but – deep down, yes.”
Brandt narrowed his eyes. “You’re getting ideas about sucking my blood and you’re admitting it to me?”
“You know full well I would rather kill myself than do that, but the desire is always there, and it is stronger after you taste human blood.”
“So I’m addictive? I can accept that. But sorry, sister, the blood bank is closed for tonight.”
Lia shook her head, a little offended. “You know full well I wouldn’t…”
“Just teasing you.”
“Alright, I deserve that.”
“Since we’re being honest – your, uh, bite wasn’t so bad.”
“No? I’m glad. The animals don’t seem to mind.”
“Kind of cool, actually. Sort of tingly in a good way. Until you made me nauseous. You took a lot.”
She blanched. “I’m so sorry. As I said, it’s hard to stop.”
“Your body took what it needed. And I'm still here. That's a win-win.”
She nodded, then seemed distracted. “I need to get back before I lose the power to keep the projection.” She got up to leave and walked out on deck. Brandt walked with her.
Before she left, Brandt asked, “Did you notice anything new about the boat?”
She nodded and said, “Yes the mast is up, it’s clean, and …” She looked around. “It’s floating?”
“Yep. She’s ready to sail.”
Lia looked a combination of excited and nervous. “Does that mean you will be leaving soon?”
“Soon, yes. But not yet. It would be a bad idea to go traipsing around the Pacific without a test run. I need to take her out for a short spin and make sure everything works correctly.”
“Oh? When will you do that?”
“How about tonight?”
Lia looked confused, probably wondering why her opinion should matter, then something seemed to dawn on her. “Are you asking if I would like to come?”
“Of course, I am. I promised you the next trip on a boat. Well, here it is.”
Lia leaped up
and did a rapid clap. She reached forward and gave Brandt a sudden hug, then stepped back embarrassed. “Sorry,” she said. “I am just excited.”
“It’s ok, Lia. Friends hug.”
He opened his arms and hugged her back. She felt real in so many ways, and yet in others, she was not: There was no heartbeat or breathing, she was cool and had no smell. She pulled back and looked anxious.
“I have to go wake myself up. Wait for me. I’ll be right back.”
CHAPTER 23
The boat glided through the wave troughs of the dark Pacific, cutting the foamy peaks. Sails buffeted and fluffed as the boom was adjusted to a new tack. The little boat wasn’t a nimble craft, but it was steady, and barely rocked as the waves slapped against it.
The full moon gave out plenty of light to see everything. Brandt had a candle lantern at his feet to see his way around the boat but didn't need it. The moon lit the boat's interior clearly. The edge of the island was about one hundred fifty yards away. A pod of dolphins herded fish into an angular rock crevice and trapped them into a panicked flurry of slapping tails and roiling water. It was a dolphin version of shooting fish in a barrel. Sea lions rollicked in the waves and did their own version of fishing away from the dolphins. Several sea lions were curious about the pudgy boat, and swam alongside it for a few minutes, before losing interest and loping off. Seabirds circled the boat believing the little trawler might have fish on its deck. They, too, lost interest and went back to their rocky perches.
Lia bounced around the boat on her tiptoes, from one side of the deck to the other, then into the wheelhouse, then back to the deck, and for a little while, even sat on the covered bow. Her real age may be one hundred and twenty-one, but that night she acted like she was eight. She was enamored with every bird, every wave, every shine off of a sea lion’s back, every wake of a dolphin’s dorsal fin, and every glistening rock onshore. With her eyes closed, she let the wind toss her loose hair, arms held wide, embracing the cool damp air against her skin. It was like she had just been let out of jail.
Before they had set sail, she had returned wearing an outfit for a garden party or cocktails, rather than a late-night spin on a fishing boat. She wore a snug white blouse with a folded down top that left her shoulders and most of her arms bare. Brandt had never seen her in any clothing that didn’t cover everything but her face. Her pleated skirt was also white and hugged her hips, hanging to mid-calf. It was the most daring thing he had ever seen her wear, and yet it would be considered moderately conservative on anyone else. She was most definitely overdressed, and she was also most definitely a vision. The combination of the white outfit, creamy skin, and platinum gold hair made her look like a piece of pearl jewelry. An elfin princess frolicking on an old fishing boat.
She turned to Brandt, flashing a childlike grin. “I love this!”
Brandt was trading off between watching Lia's effervescent display and checking out the side of the island he had never seen before. He had always wondered if Lia's side of the island was the only accessible part. Was there any kind of beach, or port, or alcove elsewhere on the island? The answer so far was, “No.” Every part of the eastern side of the island was sheer or treacherous rock cliffs, with the mountain seeming to grow directly from the depths of the sea, and standing in defiance of the rest of the vast ocean. If nothing else, the test run had given Brandt assurance that Lia's side of the island was the only side he needed to keep watch over.
He also kept an eye out for anyone who might show their hand and chase him down. If there was anyone watching, and they saw Brandt’s sail, they might take chase. He saw no one except the sea predators working for their dinners. The yacht he had noticed earlier in the day was gone.
He laughed at Lia’s unbridled glee.
“What?” she said, maintaining her grin.
“I’ve never seen a grown woman dance around a fishing boat wearing a dressy outfit.”
She cocked her head. “I am overdressed?”
“Well, it’s not exactly the most appropriate thing for a fishing boat.”
“I don’t have any fishing boat clothing. But I made these myself a long time ago from patterns in one of my books. I wanted to have something to wear if I ever went to a casual evening party. But since I’m never going to go to a party… Anyway, I felt like wearing it. I think it looks pretty. Don’t you?”
Brandt rolled his eyes. “Sweetie, you could make a potato sack look pretty.”
She screwed up her face. “Is that a new fashion on the mainland?”
“It just might be,” Brandt chuckled. “Everything else has been.”
“And men like this fashion?”
“Men don’t like most of women’s fashion. We’d be happier if they were naked.”
Lia actually considered this for a moment. “That’s very impractical. And probably distracting. But I’ll try the potato sack sometime.”
Lia turned to look out at the water again, completely oblivious to the joke.
Brandt ran the boat onto the beach and hopped into the surf. He held his arms out for Lia and she arranged herself daintily before allowing herself to be carried ashore. Once on shore, she brushed herself down and crossed her arms in front of her. Brandt shook off the excess water from his jeans and flung out his arms in a “that’s all folks” gesture.
Lia nodded. The smile hadn’t come off her lips for the whole thirty-minute sail. Brandt had gone very slowly around the island, and he did occasionally check for leaks (there were none), mostly he just steered and observed.
On the beach, Lia bounced on her toes. The excitement hadn’t worn off yet. “I haven’t been off this island since we moved here long ago. I can’t thank you enough for taking me out in your boat.”
“You’re welcome. It’s actually a pleasure seeing a woman happy about a simple thing like this. There’s no woman I know in L.A. that would be. If I offer an L.A. woman a ride, it better be a BMW, not a trawler.”
She shrugged. “Well, I liked it very much. Is a BMW even more fun?”
“Not really,” said Brandt. “Just more expensive. And harder to fix.”
She shrugged again. “I’m going to miss you and your silly humor tremendously, Mr. Dekker.”
He pretended to be bashful. “You just say that to all the guys who get shipwrecked on your island.”
She thought for a moment. “Half of them. There have only been two.”
He laughed.
There was a small awkward silence before she said, “I’ll let you put the boat away. You are leaving in the morning?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
She stepped forward and gave him a quick hug. “You have given me memories I will never forget. Thank you. Will you visit me again, someday?”
He hesitated only to think of the best wording. “If I can get things settled where I’m not worried about The Russian anymore, then yeah, I’d love to visit.”
“Good.” She let go.
“Listen, I’d like to have a map of the area. Do you have any?”
“Of course. I have several. Take whatever you need from the library.”
She walked back to the incline, stopping only to wave, then she glided up and disappeared over the edge.
Brandt pushed the boat back into the surf, then hopped in and sparked up the little motor. He guided the boat into his cave and parked the nose onshore.
There were some preparations to make, and packing to do, though not a lot since he didn't exactly have much to his name when he came here. He figured he'd leave a few guns for Lia even though he doubted it would make much of a difference, and he didn't think Lia would even fire them. Just in case the bad guys decided to punish the Zakharyins for harboring Brandt, extra firepower would be available to add to Viktor's abilities.
There probably wouldn't be a need for their home defense because Brandt was sure The Russian's men would follow him. If they saw him sail east, they would follow. So he made sure his own guns were
loaded, with extra magazines and ammo in his bag. Onboard defenses: ready.
When his feet hit the sandy shore, he almost stepped on a little can of black paint. He had forgotten to put it back in the shed. Picking it up, he remembered what else he had forgotten to do with it.
Back in the house, Brandt ascended the stairs. He found Lia in her lab bent over her microscope. For a moment he had a pang of guilt as he remembered why.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” she returned sweetly.
“I’m going to borrow one of your maps in the library. I’ll need to take it with me.”
“Of course. Take what you need.” She looked up from her microscope. “Perhaps you can bring me an updated one next time you visit?”
“Sure. I’ll be glad to. I just don’t know when it will be.”
“I understand.” She smiled and turned back to her microscope.
He went to the library and located a shelf with a number of maps on it, found the section that had local maps, and picked out two. One was older and the other seemed fairly new. He was going to ask Lia where she figured Makal Island was on the map, but once he looked, he was fairly certain he knew their location.
On the older map, there was a small white blotch representing an unnamed island, which was the farthest island from the mainland. It was barely noticeable in the vast California coastal waters. On the newer map, where the island would’ve have been, were only the rings of a raised sea basin to signify a shallow area. No longer a landmass. Government pettiness. Brandt examined both and decided to go with the newer one.
He spread the map out on a table and looked it all over. If he sailed northeast, he’d hit the closest island named San Nicolas. Unfortunately, San Nicolas was an abandoned naval base, and there probably was nothing there but dilapidated buildings and weeds. The mainland was about one hundred miles and would take a whole day to get there unless he got some great wind. But in between the mainland and Makal Island was Catalina Island. Not directly in the middle, and not a direct line, but it would shave maybe four hours off his sail.