CHAPTER 22
Alexander relaxed on the silk sheets of a four-poster bed the Council had provided. Instead of taking a page from her sire, Tanya paced the length of the room. Her frantic behaviour was causing his nervousness to surface.
“You will wear down the carpet if you keep doing that,” he said.
Tanya scowled at him and stilled. “I fear that Mistress Eliza will not be kind to us.”
“She cannot kill us, if that is what you fear. Maxim assured me that we will be safe as long as we abide by their rules and regulations. If we are to commit a crime against them, we are meant to be sent back to Maxim instead of having a trial here.”
She sat on the edge of his bed. “How can you be so relaxed, Alexander? Even Master Vincent did not seem fond of his sire. What if Eliza chooses to disregard the deal with Maxim?”
Alexander seemed thoughtful for a moment. There was little they could do. If they left their rooms, it would mean breaking their word and rendering them as vampires with no honour. He would not allow for his actions to tarnish his sire’s reputation.
“You may stay in this room with me or go to your room. Whichever you choose, I suggest you do so soon. I am exhausted from our travels.”
Her pretty face was full of uncertainty. To him, she appeared like a lost lamb that did not know where she was going. A moment later, she reclined on the sheets next to him and buried her face in his side.
“I will stay but not because I am frightened. It is because I do not wish to leave you alone,” Tanya mumbled into his shirt.
He combed her golden locks that ran down her back like a river of gold and smiled. “Let us rest. Tomorrow we will have our answers.”
Unlike his assuring words, he did not feel at peace. Alexander remained awake throughout the remaining hours of the night, listening to the noises in the mansion. He closed his eyes, concentrating on the sounds like he used to do at home.
After twenty minutes, he concluded that there were no humans in the Council building. It was not for him to judge how they ruled their territory. Maxim and the other four members of the Russian Council were more willing to work with humans as long as they benefited them and remained faithful.
As the first rays of morning sun pierced the green veil curtains, giving the room a sickly shade, Alexander rolled to one side and allowed sleep to finally claim his exhausted body.
“Alexander! Alexander, wake up!” Tanya’s energetic voice broke through his dreamless slumber.
He stirred. What was important enough that he had to be awakened at an ungodly hour of noon? He sensed that the sun was high in the sky. Its strength gave him a mild headache.
“I do not feel like waking up, Tanya. Come back later.”
“Oh, be serious about this! A messenger came. We are being summoned by Mistress Eliza.”
Alexander sat up with unnatural speed. His childe had changed into a new red dress that he did not recall her owning. Her capped sleeves looked like bloated balloons on her upper arms. Around her waistline was a long braided golden rope of some kind. It was knotted on one side in an attempt to keep the upper layer of the gown closed.
Alexander cringed. “What is that atrocity you are wearing?”
She pouted and ran her hands down the material that did not appear smooth or soft. “They called it a tea dress. I did not have much of a choice. You have received a gift, too. Your clothes are on the bed next to you.”
Alexander was relieved to find that his gift consisted of pair of plain black trousers, a white cotton shirt, and a charcoal waistcoat. He lifted the shirt, feeling the smooth material with his fingers. The quality of the cloth was exceptional. He got off the bed and shrugged out of his shirt.
“You could have warned me that you were going to change!” Tanya protested.
“Are you displeased with the view?” he asked over his shoulder.
He caught her rolling her eyes and smirked.
“You are too full of yourself sometimes. I feel sorry for any woman who wishes to claim your childish heart.”
Alexander changed into his new clothes and turned on the spot. “Do I not look better in Western clothes than you?”
“I hope you choke on your jokes, but I pray you do so after the meeting with the Councilwoman.”
He beamed at her and gave her a peck on the cheek. “I am pleased to see your spirits returning to normal. I have missed the Tanya that talked back to me at every turn.”
“I am going to presume you will be taking those words back in the next decade or two.” Her smile curved her red lips. She had time to put on makeup, which Alexander never seemed to understand. It dirtied the pillows and the clothes, but women still applied colourful powders and used different pencils to make their eyes appear larger and their faces brighter.
Someone knocked on the bedroom door. All humour evaporated into thin air as Alexander took the remaining three long strides to the wooden obstacle. He opened it to find Levile standing there with his arms folded behind his back.
“Please follow me. Master Vincent and Mistress Eliza shall see you now in the dining room,” Levile said in English.
Alexander’s eyes narrowed. How long would it take this young man to figure out that I could not understand a thing? The flutter of English words that spilled out of Levile’s mouth was definitely pleasant to the ear but meant little to him or Tanya. He would study the language as soon as he found free time. Without it, he would be unable to conduct further business in Britain.
Levile raised a brow. “Sir? You are—”
Alexander chose to interrupt him before the vampire decided to speak more foreign words his way. He thought back to what he had heard Maxim use once upon a time in his discussions at the Council, and his frown deepened. Nothing came to mind, so he spoke in Russian, “Я не понимаю о чём вы говорите.”
The man cleared his throat. His words came out in fragmented Russian. “Вас вызывают Винсэнт и Элайза.”
The comedy of this scenario did not escape Alexander. He fought against his smile. “Lead the way.”
Levile shook his head and led them past the spacious parlour, down a hall, until they were faced with another set of ominous black doors.
“Please.” Levile waved at the entrance.
Alexander nodded, gripped the cold handle, and made his way inside. He blinked a couple of times. His eyes had to adjust to the flood of lamplight that bathed the room and spilled into the hallway where they stood.
On a throne-like, carved chair and at the head of a long dining table sat a pale woman. Her fiery straight hair ran down her left side and disappeared under the table. She wore an elegant black silk dress with a layer of lace covering it. It was much different to the kind of dress she had forced Tanya into.
To the woman’s right, Vincent sat in a more classical chair. His expression seemed guarded, and Alexander decided to play his cards close to his chest. They were not here to play. Business came first.
The woman, who Alexander guessed was Eliza, assessed him and Tanya with cold green eyes. She pointed to the two seats at the other end of the table with her bony finger and said in Russian, “Sit.”
Alexander did not waste time. He took Tanya’s hand and led the way to the table. He pulled up a chair for his childe, pushing it in after she had taken her seat, and joined everyone at the table soon after.
Vincent sighed. “You are frightening the youth, Eliza.”
“Me? Frightening? Why would I be frightening when I am in a good mood? Or are you implying something, my son?” Eliza asked.
Vincent settled back in his seat and placed his clasped hands on the surface of the oak table. “I do not feel like playing games today.”
Eliza diverted her attention to the guests and beamed at them. “How have you survived with such a bore as your guide last night? I fear my choice in children is rather poor…”
Tanya opened her mouth to speak, and Alexander squeezed her hand under the table ha
rd enough that she closed her mouth and lowered her head. Things were never easy with Council members. Many liked to play mental games and some searched for a way to provoke others. Alexander was uncertain which category Eliza fit into. He feared that his words may cause a misunderstanding that could affect their future cooperation.
“Mistress Eliza,” Alexander began, “would it not be best for us to discuss important matters?”
Eliza’s smile did not falter. If it was possible, her eyes seemed to grow colder as all forms of emotion were wiped away from her being. She tilted her head to one side. “And are you going to be the one who decides what we discuss?”
“I did not mean to offend you. I feel that it would be a waste of your precious time, which could be used on more pressing issues,” Alexander replied with a tremble to his tone.
Eliza folded her hands under her chin and the room grew silent. Not a single breath escaped the people in the grand dining room. Light from the bulbs and half-opened windows bounced off the polished parquet and danced on the old portraits of Eliza above her head.
Alexander’s nerves were getting the best of him, and he found himself squeezing Tanya’s hand until she whimpered next to him. He immediately released her.
Eliza smirked. “You are an interesting man, Alexander. Much like your sire who, as you may not know, has spent many a year in my bedchambers.”
Alexander hoped he could leave the room that instant. He did not wish to partake in the conversation of who his sire had fornicated with or how he spent his nights.
“You do not seem to like the news,” Eliza continued. “Why would that be?”
Alexander cleared his dry throat. “I do not find my sire’s sexual partners to be a good topic for conversation.”
Eliza ran her thin index finger over her lips, her eyes never leaving Alexander’s. “Then what is it you enjoy, young boy?”
“Must you continue with your games? The man is clearly disturbed by your off topic conversation starters,” Vincent interjected.
She finally broke eye contact, and Alexander realised that his body was shaking. Her presence alone was strong enough to keep any predator at bay. And when her attention was solely focused on him, Alexander thought that she could reach his very soul and grab it at her will. Eliza was a terrifying woman. He never wished to be near her again if he were given the choice.
“Vincent, you blighter. I wish Andreaz was here today to keep me company. He would liven the mood,” Eliza said.
“Then I am pleased that I can steer you in the direction of work. Now please say what it is you wish to say and let the children visit the city,” Vincent countered.
Eliza’s expression grew bored. “Fine. Alexander and Tanya, I welcome you to my territory. As of today, you must abide by the laws we enforce. Although, if you break them, I cannot do much other than take your head and feign ignorance when Maxim comes asking questions. So, please remember not to displease me or mine.” She paused as if thinking of what else to add. “Oh, and you are free to move about the territory as you see fit. If you wish to become a hound for the Council then that would please me greatly.”
“Duly noted,” Alexander said, “but I’m afraid that I enjoy business too much to partake in the hunt of lawbreakers.”
Tanya peeked at him through the gap in her loose hair. Her expression seemed fearful, so Alexander gave her a faint smile. He sensed her body relaxing a little, and it helped him control his fear that would not let up in the presence of the elders.
In the history that Maxim told him about, the Council members were known as elders. The ancients, also known as The Seven Royals who were the sired children of the first vampire, remained hidden somewhere on the globe, and no one seemed to know their location. They were presumed dead by a large amount of vampires in Russia, but in the East, they believed them to walk the land and take lives of the unlawful vampires. Alexander could only thank the maker for not being in a room full of Royals.
“I cannot watch this any longer. Vincent, you may deal with these children from now on. I have a play to attend and hunters to torture,” Eliza chirped, rising from her seat.
The ear-raking screech of her chair brought Alexander out of his thoughts. He stood up, bowing at the middle as much as the table before him would let him without smacking his face against its hard surface.
Eliza let out a mirthful laugh behind her hand. “I like men who do not bow, Alexander. Once you learn to do so, you may visit me in my bedchambers.”
As her light footsteps retreated out of the room, Alexander battled the sense of repulsion that coursed through him. Mistress Eliza was truly a monster.
CHAPTER 23
The Round Pound Pub, London. December, 1891.
Alexander sat at the bar of his pub with a glass of whiskey in his hand.
Jana sat next to him. She lifted her drink to her lips and downed it in one mouthful. As she set the glass onto the polished redwood surface, she cringed. “This”—she pointed to the opened bottle between them—“is awful. I thought I asked you to find me the most expensive drink you can afford.”
Alexander chuckled and took a swig of his drink, letting the amber liquid warm his parched throat upon its descent. He lowered the glass and let out a sigh which bounced off the burgundy walls and strong wooden beams above their heads. Before Jana’s arrival, he had closed the pub for the night to be able to spend some time with his blood-sister, especially after they have not talked in so long. He had sent multiple letters to Ewa, thanking her for intervening and received a short reply of ‘Thank me with your body in a century or two’.
Jana rested her chin on her palm and gazed at him. “Did you ever think you would be drinking whiskey with me in a pub and listening to my troubles?”
“Do you require an honest answer?”
“I guess not,” she mumbled and poured them another round. Jana watched the liquid lapping at the sides of her glass. “How is your childe adjusting? You have kept her hidden from me, so I have yet to meet her.”
“Tanya is a good woman. She works harder than any man I’ve had dealings with in the past. Her father taught her patience and perseverance for business. For that, I am thankful to her old man.”
“What about in bed? Is she able to keep up?”
Alexander finished his second drink. “I wouldn’t know.”
Jana’s full lips shifted into a half-smile. “You have not bedded her? I thought you turned her out of love.”
“I do love my childe as a friend and companion but nothing more. I believe she is content with such an arrangement.”
She refilled his drink. “After Katharine died, you’ve not once fallen for anyone?”
Alexander did not wish to respond to her question, especially when Jana already knew the answer. He was incapable of giving his heart to another. Love was a shelved memory at the back of his mind, never to be revisited. With so many years put behind him after Katharine’s passing, he still could not open up to any one woman. It was a curse the death of the Sokolov family left behind. If not, then it was his lack of luck.
“Alexander, do you regret becoming a vampire?”
He gripped the glass in his hands and, before it could shatter, he pushed it away. “Business keeps me alive, my childe keeps me sane, and women in my bed keep my sexual appetite satiated. There is nothing for me to regret.”
She shifted on her seat, providing him with the clear view of her breasts that were highlighted by the tight corset under her gold and brown dress. When she took in a breath, they threatened to spill over, and Alexander looked away. This was nothing more than lust; something he learned to control over the century.
“If you wish to touch me, go ahead. I will not complain,” Jana offered.
“There is no need for me to do so. You are more important to me as a friend than a casual amusement for one night.”
Jana stood, letting her skirt fall and brush the surface of the parquet beneath her feet. She pressed herself closer to him and hopped onto
his lap.
“This is a parting gift before I return to Shanghai,” she whispered against his lips.
Bewildered, Alexander grasped her slim waist, ready to push her off, when her lustful lips pressed to his and his resolve faltered.
Jana’s gloved hands snaked around his neck, brushing the hem of his collar. Her fingers combed gently through his hair.
Trapped in the pleasure of her masterful kiss, Alexander shed his apprehensions and returned her hungry passion with his starved mouth, seeking comfort he was certain she could provide him for the night. His hands gripped her waist, and he lifted her. He moved them to a standing position against the nearby wall. It only took enough time for a human to blink with his vampire speed.
His hands roamed her body. He found her thighs buried in the layers of material. Irritated with the interruption, Alexander lifted the skirts and touched the bare flesh of her upper thigh. A simple caress summoned a pleasure-filled moan out of her throat. He broke the kiss to let her sweet voice disturb the air around them.
Alexander moved his lips to her neck, leaving a trail of kisses to her exposed collarbone. While his fingers groped her behind, he knew she was desperate for a more erotic touch.
Jana whispered, “Stop teasing me.”
He chuckled against her breast, and she arched her back, allowing him better access to the tightly tied bow that held her dress together.
Alexander undid the knot with his free hand, loosening the strings. The dress sagged against her skin, and he slid it down her slender body.
She peeled off her white gloves, discarding them at their feet without a care, leaving her in a black corset, under which was a chemise, and underwear.
Alexander permitted himself a moment to enjoy the beautiful view of the temptress before him.
“I swear your new man will murder me for this,” he said with a smile.
Jana licked her lower lip with intended slowness and stepped out of her dress. “Do not fear Philippe’s anger. He has agreed to an open relationship, even if it was…under duress and after a number of playful whippings.”
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