23
The woman cleared her throat with a warm smile, and the man abruptly halted, having only taken two steps. His anger had shifted to thoughtfulness between one moment and the next, and then he gave me a respectful nod.
Watching their different reactions—her amusement and his curiosity—I realized I had just passed a test. They had expected me to respond with instant violence and now seemed intrigued by my calm demeanor.
She gave him a meaningful look, confirming my suspicion, before turning back to me and eyeing Isabella’s crucifix. “Isabella told us very little about you, Sorin Ambrogio. She told us the rumors and stories that everyone whispers on the streets about your attack on the vampires and what you’ve done since. That you were once called the Devil of Italy, or Greece, or Europe, even. And that they now call you the Devil of New York. That things have been better since your arrival in spite of the blood spilled.”
I considered her words and then nodded carefully. “That is true.”
“That you claim to be the world’s first vampire…”
“I do not claim it. I am the world’s first vampire,” I said firmly.
“Then I would hear your story. I cannot validate rumors, but I can tell when a man is lying. Tell me your tale, Sorin Ambrogio. No embellishments. Only the basic facts.”
“Enough to convince us not to destroy you where you stand,” the man added with a polite smile. “If you are the first, then is this not all your fault?”
I met his eyes, careful not to take it personally. He had a solid point. But it was wrong.
I considered their request, silently weighing how much they needed to know to make a decision about my character. I decided they needed quite a bit, given my reputation, so I let them have it. “I grew up in Greece as an orphan. Upon reaching manhood, I traveled to the Oracle of Delphi in hopes of hearing my destiny was to be brighter than my past,” I began in a soft voice. “I didn’t know it then, but that was the day my life would be changed forever. That was the day the Olympian Gods cursed me to become the world’s first vampire, and I’m confident that it was out of pure spite.”
The Nephilim listened with open astonishment, especially at my mention of the Olympians. As I continued my brief but honest reiterations, I carefully noted their reactions as I told them about meeting Selene, hearing my various curses, my eventual conquest of Europe, my friend Dracula, the Americas, my betrayer Dracula, my slumber, and then waking up hundreds of years later, learning I had been forgotten, and all that had transpired from then through to today—here, standing before the Nephilim. I told them everything significant—even my failures. I paused for a few moments, watching them digest my story, before I began speaking again. “And then the brave male Nephilim said he would love to help me, and that all would be well. And then the beautiful female Nephilim said I was the most honorable man she ever—”
“That will be quite enough,” the female Nephilim said, trying to hide an amused smirk. The male Nephilim had flashed me a warm grin, chuckling softly.
“It was worth a try,” I said with an innocent shrug.
She studied me curiously. “You did not lie.” She sounded…surprised.
The man watched me. “We too know what it is like to be forgotten underground, vampire,” he said, gesturing angrily at the tunnel. Then he clamped his lips shut, looking surprised that he had spoken his frustrations out loud—especially to me.
I dipped my chin, a gesture of thanks for his openness. “Does that mean my extra bit at the end is as good as your handshake?” I asked with a hopeful smile.
The man grunted. “Nice try. We don’t even know what you are requesting of us yet. What we have now is a foundation on which to begin.” I nodded. “Although I must admit that I am more open to persuasion now that I know the cursed Olympians are behind it all.”
The woman nodded her agreement. “The Olympians have much to answer for.”
“I get first swing at the ones I mentioned in my story,” I said. “Let’s get that clear right now.”
The man chuckled, shaking his head. “I do not think punching a minor god would go well for even you, Sorin Ambrogio, but it would be entertaining to witness.”
The woman cleared her throat pointedly, bringing us back to business. “Show me the brand where the crucifix burned you,” she said. “When you banished Dracula from possessing the necromancer and took over the city.”
I held out my palm, advancing a few steps for them to get a clear view. “Religious items have never harmed me, but they do harm other vampires. Perhaps it is due to my origins in Greece long ago.” I lifted Isabella’s crucifix in the air and then placed it on my forehead, showing them that it caused me no discomfort whatsoever.
They nodded thoughtfully, still looking like they couldn’t quite believe it.
Finally, the woman spoke. “If witches like the Sisters of Mercy can fight on our side, I see no reason why Sorin couldn’t do the same.”
I dipped my chin graciously. “Unless you have a lot more friends than I see right now, a numbers game is not in our favor. Dracula likely has hundreds of vampires across the ocean, and however many he has snuck back into the city since I defeated him. Then there is the Cauldron. Seven of their witches died this evening after attacking me and my associates. For all I know, the Cauldron and Dracula are working together, or at least in concert.”
The woman shook her head. “The Cauldron hates Dracula almost as much as we do.”
I shrugged. “Unfortunately, they have found a common enemy in me. War makes for unlikely allies,” I said, gesturing at the three of us as an obvious example.
“Then what do you suggest?” the man asked, sounding intrigued.
I took a deep breath, wondering how best to answer his question. I could tell from our interaction so far that they valued open honesty above all else, and that the only way forward was to speak plainly. Especially after the man mentioned being abandoned and forgotten underground. “Dracula allegedly controls the travel industry, preventing me from going to him. So, I intend to bring his castle—my castle—here. I have the ability to do this with surprisingly minimal effort. My only issue is that I need a very large open place to do so. My spell would transport Dracula, the entire structure, and its inhabitants, here, cutting him off from his allies in Europe.”
The Nephilim scoffed outrageously. “Absolutely not! Bringing his entire castle here to the middle of New York City? Inviting Dracula directly into our bosoms? That’s like telling us that the best way to fight a plague is to stab ourselves in the heart.”
I nodded, having already thought about it at great length. This was where I had hit a brick wall. “Which is the second reason I wanted to speak with you—and any other Nephilim you may know. I believe it is possible to bond the castle not only to me and Central Park, but to the Nephilim. To turn his fortress into a prison.”
They stared at me, their eyes wide in disbelief. The man spoke first. “Preposterous. How would you—” He cut off abruptly, his body stiffening in sudden understanding. He stared at me, his fiery blue eyes flaring brighter as his mouth hung open.
“I wish to turn you,” I said. “Turn you into Nephilim vampires.”
The woman gasped, lifting a hand to her mouth in shock.
The man had managed to close his mouth, and was now staring at me in open disbelief, looking torn about whether he should feel offended or…honored.
I pressed on, taking advantage of the silence. “If you are bonded to me and to the consecrated land, we would be trapping the castle and Dracula within. Holy artifacts destroy evil and harm vampires, yet you have seen that I suffer no such affliction. What if bonding you to me and the castle allows us to taint the very walls? Turning Dracula’s fortress into a prison? Enough of a prison for me to enter and at least stand a chance of destroying him once and for all.”
The woman held a hand to her breasts, licking her lips. “Such a request could have disastrous consequences to us,” she whispered, but I coul
d tell that she was merely making a comment, not an impassioned argument. My hopes began to rise ever so slightly, but I kept my face neutral.
The man didn’t bother hiding his emotions, openly revealing his bitterness. “Consequences?” he repeated in a cool, clipped tone. “We have been living in a sewer for hundreds of years with no one coming to take us home or give us a quest. We have been forgotten. Truly.”
The woman met his eyes, slowly gathering her courage. Then she gave him a slow, firm nod. “Perhaps it would be considered martyrdom if this grants us the power to one day make the Olympians pay for their history of crimes.”
I nodded sincerely. “I can’t promise when, but I will do everything in my power to make the Olympians pay. One day soon, I hope.”
She licked her lips. “Then I am agreed. I can do no good for the world from down here.”
The man nodded as well. “I grow weary of hiding underground. I think it’s about time we made an appearance above, and if you’re bringing a castle to Central Park, I doubt anyone would have cause to look twice at a pair of giants walking the earth.”
“Compared to my castle, you won’t look like giants, of that I can assure you.” I studied them thoughtfully, wondering how I was supposed to sneak two giants into Central Park without drawing every eye. “How do we get you out of here?”
They smiled pompously. Then they suddenly shrunk to the same height as me. “We can maintain this form for a day or so at a time. But what are we to do in Central Park?”
I closed the distance between us, standing before them in momentary silence. They still looked made of marble, yet their naked flesh looked soft enough to caress—like poured milk. “First, I wish to thank you for making such a difficult decision. As I told you, I could have attempted all of this on my own, but I realize that would just be bringing a bigger problem to New York City. With your help, I hope to change everything. Thank you for believing in me,” I said, extending my hand.
The woman smiled at me. “I can’t remember the last time I did anything worthwhile for mankind. I’m ashamed to say that you have done more in the past few weeks to help them than I have in the last few hundred years.” She grasped my hand and shook it. I was surprised at how incredibly soft her skin was—and how insanely strong her dainty grip was. “It was not as hard a decision as you think, Sorin Ambrogio.”
The man nodded, swallowing my hand in his. “I second what she said. And I want to square off against the Olympians one day. I’m holding you to that promise.”
“We are Nephilim,” the woman said. “What if your bond is not strong enough to hold us? It could destroy you,” she said, studying my face for a reaction.
“That is a risk I am willing to take. I am not entirely responsible for what I became, but I am responsible for bringing Dracula into power. I have vowed to pay for that mistake.”
They nodded approvingly.
“Do you two have names?” I asked.
They studied each other intensely, seeming to have a silent conversation. The woman finally turned to me, smiling excitedly. “You will call us Adam and Eve, for I fear we find ourselves in a new garden full of temptations.”
The man nodded with a matching grin. “I agree.”
“It is appropriate, really,” the woman continued, holding out her arms and spinning in a slow, sensuous circle to show off her nudity. “A naked woman and a naked man are entering into a brave new world, making a deal with the Devil.”
I understood their reference. “Hopefully to save Eden this time,” I reminded them.
“So said the serpent,” Eve said with a shrug.
Adam grunted dismissively at her comment. “If our choice to fall on this blade can make the world a better place, I see no difference than if we were to die in a pointless battle with no hope of change. Or to die down here, forgotten. Our brothers and sisters have tried infiltrating Dracula’s Castle in the past, and they have all perished in the attempt. I’m willing to try, but what makes you think your plan will be any different?”
I smiled at him, baring my teeth. I tapped my fangs. “Because now you’re working with the landlord. The Castle is mine, and through our bond, you will have direct access to it.”
He nodded slowly. “As long as it doesn’t destroy our souls in the process.”
I held out my hands. “I won’t lie to you about the risks. But I can assure you that becoming a vampire doesn’t change your personality. It might lower your inhibitions, but it doesn’t change you. Men like Dracula change you. The only alternative is to continue living below ground and hope that I win. Otherwise Eden will die while you continue to eke out an empty existence in these tunnels. Until Dracula finds you, of course. And if I die, you will no longer have the chance to bond with the castle, to purify it with your blood.”
Adam smirked, a strange, malevolent look on his stoic face. “I just needed to hear you admit it. The fact that you do not avoid unpleasant questions earns you my respect.” He glanced at the woman. “What do you say, Eve? Ready to sell your soul to save the world from a worse monster than the Devil?”
24
She studied me in silence. “Will you limit how many vampires I kill?” she asked, her words sending a shiver down my spine, given her unassuming frame.
I shook my head. “As long as they are not my vampires, you may kill as many as you want.”
“You speak of those sharing the underground with us?” Eve asked, discreetly eyeing Adam with a deep, passionate interest, as if suddenly entertaining a long-dismissed hope.
I kept this observation to myself, nodding at her question. “I personally interviewed them, carefully selecting only those whom I believed I could trust. Mostly old war veterans that the world left behind. Anyone with addictions or temperamental issues, I left as I found them. After hundreds of years, I’ve learned what type of person makes a good vampire and what type of person makes a terrible monster. Dracula is mine. The rest are fair game.”
Eve nodded. “Then I can agree. I will buy back my soul in blood. This is a worthy cause.”
“We will make our new garden thrive, growing rich off the blood of monsters,” Adam said.
I nodded gratefully, trying not to show my level of excitement. I checked my blood reserves, happy to see they were still pregnant from feeding on Natalie earlier. I would have preferred to top it off with Victoria Helsing’s powerful blood, just to be safe, but I knew I would need that for tonight, and I hadn’t wanted to risk drinking from her twice in a row.
Turning a human into a vampire was relatively easy—not even requiring much power.
But I was playing an entirely different game here. I wasn’t even sure if it was possible. It wasn’t like I had a father to ask or anything. I was the first vampire, and no one had been crazy enough to try turning a Nephilim—or even crazy enough to try convincing a Nephilim to be turned.
As a precaution, I pulled out my phone and checked the clock. I was pleased to see that I still had plenty of time to wrap this up and make it back to the museum. That was surprising given all that had transpired: the retelling of my story and the subsequent negotiations. My only concern was if something went wrong and all three of us passed out from the attempt.
I called Renfield’s phone—he had already saved it in the contacts, thankfully.
“Yes, Master Ambrogio?” he asked anxiously. “Is everything okay?”
I turned my back on Adam and Eve, hiding my giddy grin. “More than okay, Renfield. We are going to need those warm bodies after all,” I told him. “The nullification cuffs might come in handy as well.”
“Of course, Master Ambrogio. We will see you momentarily.” Rather than waiting for my response, he simply hung up. I chuckled, pocketing the phone.
I thought about the work ahead now that it was more than just a vague wish. When turning from human to vampire, the transition could be brutal. The fledgling vampire often grew wild and erratic. We’d spoken at length about it to Hugo, wanting to find a way to minimize dange
rs when turning new vampires—and he’d told us about the collection of nullification cuffs they kept for just that reason.
I would have to be careful in how I brought the cuffs up to the Nephilim. The first introduction of restraints into a relationship was always a dicey exchange—especially for a relationship this fresh and new. It grew easier with repetition.
I turned to Adam and Eve. “Alright. Who wishes to go first?”
Instead of competing, they calmly stepped forward together, matching their strides.
“We will go together,” they said in unison.
I smiled, approving of their choice—as long as it didn’t overwhelm me try turning two Nephilim at once. I’d turned multiple humans at once and it hadn’t been any more difficult than turning one. Then again, these weren’t humans. But Renfield was on his way, so he could save me if things went poorly.
I studied the two of them sternly, having forgotten to address something. “I need you to be completely honest with me. Typically, when a human is first turned into a vampire, the transition can be quite difficult. The bloodlust takes over and they have a hard time balancing the new powers and instincts they receive. Granted, they had no powers before being turned, so had no experience at managing abilities of any kind.”
They nodded, looking as if they already realized what I was getting at. Eve spoke up. “We Nephilim live a life of balance and control. It is quite literally a part of us. We already have incredible powers that we must use responsibly. I think we will be fine.”
I turned to Adam, curious to hear his response. “I agree with Eve. But I also see the dangers of hubris. If beings as powerful as us did not handle the change well, it would be unbelievably dangerous. The risk is incredibly high.”
I nodded. “I think you are both right. And our whole goal here is to do some good, not destroy the city. Which is why my associate is bring some bracelets that we use on humans and supernaturals to prevent them from harming anyone. We will put them on as a precaution only.”
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