by Nick James
I frowned and stared at her; the ghost of a smile still adorned her lips. ‘I don’t like to be used either, Anastasia, so no thank you.’ I looked directly into her eyes, which sparkled much like the diamonds around her thin neck.
‘Oh, don’t be silly, Albert. We are going to have a night of dancing and getting to know each other. No offence, but there is nothing from you that I want or need, apart from your company,’ she said happily, waving her hand at me. ‘So hurry up; time is ticking.’ She spoke with such a tone that I felt my body moving under its own steam. Her voice was one that expected to be listened to and obeyed.
Half an hour later we were taking the lift down. I was wearing my Hugo Boss tuxedo with a crisp white shirt and a bow tie that she had brought in her clutch purse which matched her dress perfectly.
The doors parted and we strode out like the King and Queen of New York, even Jasper who had come on duty gave me a mock bow with a big shit-eating grin on his face. Yep, tofu burgers for you tomorrow, buddy, I thought. He must have read my mind because his face dropped as I smiled at him when I held the door open for my now date.
We travelled slowly through the Manhattan traffic in the limo which had brought Anastasia. We sat in silence for a while, but it was starting to nark me. ‘So, what’s this dance about?’
She cast her superior eye at me. ‘It’s the Policeman’s Ball. The coven is a very good donor to their charities, and with that it allows us a bit of leeway when things get messy,’ Anastasia said with a smile, allowing her incisors grow. She took my hand in hers, the long white silk glove kept the chill out of her touch, especially when dealing with the mortals, it stops it from being a topic of conversation.
‘Ah, so we are playing nicely with the local Peelers.’ I chuckled as the beauty on my arm looked confused as hell. ‘The bobbies, coppers, the police,’ I explained, using my best London boy accent, making her laugh along with me. ‘So, how come you’re allowed to play with the cattle, as one of your friends called them, and I cannot?’
She stared daggers at me. ‘One thing, they are not my friends. It is a committee, and they asked me to join, which I did,’ Anastasia stated, lightly crushing my hand. ‘Which allows me to carry on with a certain lifestyle. And this is committee work tonight. You will learn if you play the game. Life won’t change for you…much.’
‘I understand what you are saying, but it’s not my thing really,’ I admitted and watched the people outside bustling about. ‘I had that from my father and the army. I do what I want to do now. It’s a long life and I want to enjoy it.’ I carried on people watching.
I felt her squeeze my hand, which made me look at her. ‘I can’t blame you for that, but there are a few members who don’t like you or where you come from.’
That made me chuckle. ‘Because I’m British?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, some are very old and lived through King George’s reign and the revolution. They still hold grudges.’ That did make me laugh.
‘Jesus, I’m not that old. How can they blame that on me?’ I asked while still laughing at the pettiness of some people.
Anastasia shook her head. ‘No, they were loyalist. When the English were kicked out they lost everything, and they expected you countrymen to come back and overthrow the revolutionaries, so they hate all the British,’ she stated as the car started to slow down.
‘Why invite me, then? Why demand that I change my ways so I can join them?’
‘There was a vote, and they lost,’ she said happily as the driver got out of the front of the limo. ‘They wanted you killed for disrespecting the coven.’
My door was then opened. I was stunned at her words as I got out. I proffered my hand for her to step out, and we walked together up the carpet towards the front door. I leaned in. ‘They really want me dead?’
‘Yes, but we shall talk about it later. Now we show our public face,’ she instructed as we walked into the large room.
I handed her a champagne flute and took one for myself from the pretty waitress. We mingled and were introduced to a few couples and older men, who all flirted with us, which was very disconcerting.
‘See, Albert, you’re a natural, the others are so stuffy.’
Soon the orchestra started to play, and she guided me onto the polished wooden dance floor.
‘I’m not much of a dancer, I’m afraid,’ I admitted. The last time was on my date with Veronica.
‘I have danced all my life. Let me lead and just relax and let’s enjoy ourselves,’ Anastasia said.
And that’s what I did as we twirled around the dance floor. She was perfection; her footwork and posture were correct.
‘You are amazing! Where did you learn to dance like this?’ I panted slightly – it was hard work all this spinning around.
‘I had lessons continuously as a child. My sisters and I loved to dance, but my brother not so much.’ Tears glistened in her eyes momentarily, but with a shake of her head her composure returned.
I looked around the ornate building built with light stone; it was quite nice. I saw the policeman who was a guest at the neighbours’ party. He nodded his head when he saw me. So that’s who told them about what happened, I thought. The music stopped.
‘Would you care to sit and talk awhile?’ I asked Anastasia.
‘Yes please, I just need to visit the ladies’ room, so I will find you in a moment,’ she said, placing a soft kiss on my cheek before gliding away into the mass of bodies.
I watched her move through the crowd effortlessly before turning and claiming two more flutes of the very nice champagne. I spied a small table in the far corner of the room, which I headed to. Most people wanted to be seen at these functions, but not this kid. A table in the deepest depths for this vampire. With an old man’s groan, I sat down and let my body relax – well, until a shadow appeared over me.
‘Good evening, Mr Morris. How are you?’
I looked up and saw the policeman I knew. I stood up and shook his hand. ‘Ah, Captain Hughes, it’s good to see you again. I am well, thank you. And yourself?’
We both sat down. Damn that third seat. ‘Please call me Ray, and I am doing well, thank you,’ he replied. The policeman was a tall, broad man with salt and pepper hair and a strong jaw. He looked at me intently. ‘How did it go with the coven the other night? They said they were interested in you?’
‘So it was you who told them about the break-in.’ I frowned.
He held up his hands to placate me. ‘Hey, man, just doing my job. The higher-ups give me a job to do, so I do it,’ said Ray, which seemed to be the truth.
‘So, you know about us, then? Doesn’t it worry you?’ I asked, but the man just shrugged.
‘Nah, there’s not many of you, and it’s not like you are killing hundreds.’ He chuckled and leaned in closer. ‘I know the old boys of the coven don’t like what you are doing, but the bosses and I appreciate you culling the scumbags. Wish you would all do it.’
I nodded. ‘I learnt that years ago. Innocents are always hunted by evil – beast and man. So, I turned the tables, especially as no one really misses the bad ones.’ It was then that I saw Anastasia walking back with a smile on her face. ‘Ah, my date is coming back.’
He nodded and stood up. ‘Then I shall leave you be. What happened to that girl you were with that night? She was a peach.’
‘That night shook her. When she thought of me it brought it all back. So bye, bye, baby,’ I said sadly.
He put a hand on my shoulder. ‘Sorry to hear that, buddy, happens way too often. Well, enjoy your night, Albert.’ With a dip of his head to my date, he then said, ‘Hello, Anastasia,’ and kissed her proffered hand.
‘Ray,’ she said, albeit a bit abruptly.
Maybe some background there, I thought and watched her sit down and take a sip of champagne.
‘Watch that man, despite his amiable manner he makes people disappear for the coven,’ she said coldly after he’d walked away.
I couldn’t say I was s
urprised by her admission. Anyone who worked for a third party when they themselves were paid to enforce the laws of the land was dodgy straight away. ‘Sounds like I’m in big trouble?’
‘All depends on whether you bend to the will of the coven or dress up as superheroes to flirt with humans,’ she replied quickly and laughed into her glass.
The captain was still looking over at times, which was starting to irk me. ‘So, may I ask about your history? You look familiar to me, but I can’t quite put my finger on it,’ I said, trying to sound sincere and not just nosey.
She stared at me for a second, then lowered the flute back onto the table and made sure it was settled on the coaster. ‘I’m sure once I tell you my full name it will come to you,’ Anastasia expressed.
I smiled, intrigued. ‘We shall see. So, milady, who are you?’
The young woman straightened her back, placed her hands together on her lap and looked at me. ‘My name is Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov.’
Chapter 15
I sat stunned. ‘Holy shit. I read about what happened to your family, and there were always rumours that you had got away,’ I recalled, remembering the uproar about the Russian royal family’s murder at the hands of the Bolsheviks. ‘I’m so sorry about what happened to your family,’ I said, although I felt foolish saying it, especially after so long.
‘Thank you, Albert. I was lucky to get away. There was so much smoke from the gunfire in the cellar. We had corsets with diamonds sewn into the lining, which stopped some of the bullets,’ she said and lowered her head.
I could see tears dripping onto her gown, so I handed her a napkin. ‘I’m sorry, Anastasia, I didn’t mean to bring it up again. Please forgive me,’ I apologised, but she just waved it off and dabbed at her eyes.
‘Please call me Sia. It’s what my little brother, Alexei, used to call me,’ she said and took quite a large draught of the bubbly drink. ‘The bastard Yakov Yurovsky, may he rot in hell. When he realised not all of us were dead, they started to club and bayonet us. But I was lucky…ish.’
I moved closer to her. ‘How so, Sia?’
That brought a warm smile to her face. ‘One of our maids was with us, Natalya, a kind, fun girl with a sharp wit. Mother didn’t like her, of course, but all of us girls did.’ She chuckled remembering the young maid, but then her face straightened again as she continued her story. ‘She was already dead, so in the smoke and confusion I placed my rings on her fingers. At that point in time our clothes weren’t any better than the servants. When the killer moved in to get our other maid, Anna Demidova, who was still alive at the back, I snuck out through the door and stole one of the men’s coats and made my escape. Some loyal guards helped and smuggled me away.’
‘Wow, you were so lucky. How did you get turned?’
The Duchess Romanov waved down another waitress and took two chilled glasses. After taking a sip, she placed it back down onto the table. ‘Just a random act. I was walking one night in Sweden. I was attacked and dragged into a dark alley and bitten. I always carried a dagger since the attack on my family, so I fought back. As with you, his blood got into my mouth and I was changed.’
‘Did your sire die?’ I asked.
She nodded. ‘Yes, on my third strike I struck his heart, and the silver-plated dagger finished him off.’
We moved on to better subjects: the places she had lived and loved or hated, thanks to the loyal guards who had smuggled her out. They had also managed to collect a lot of family heirlooms whilst the country was torn apart by the revolution, which allowed her to have family photos and also the money for those who saved her to live in comfort. She couldn’t blame them for keeping some of the gold. The corset of diamonds alone meant she never had to work again, although she could not bear to sell the item that saved her life.
As the evening came to a close, we once again found ourselves in the limo. Sia was curled up next to me resting her head on my shoulder. ‘I came to New York in 1952, and once the coven found out who I was they almost demanded that I join them, so I did,’ she said in sleepy tones.
‘I still don’t understand why they are being so bossy with me; I’m just trying to live the life I was dealt,’ I stated, but I never received an answer. Dragging up her past had obviously tired her both emotionally and physically. I pressed the button on the door panel to notify the driver.
He looked in the mirror after the divide had dropped. ‘Yes, sir?’
‘The lady has fallen asleep. If you could drop me off back at home and make sure she gets home safely?’ I asked politely.
‘Of course, sir. We are ten minutes away from your abode,’ he said and moved the limo into another lane. ‘Oh, and Lady Romanov informed me to pick up some fast food for you. I have four foot-long Subs in the trunk. She said you have a piquancy for such foods.’
I barked out a laugh that made Sia grumble and mutter something about disciplining bad pillows. ‘Thank you, my friend, and thank the lady when she wakes up, too,’ I replied as the limo coasted to a stop outside my building.
I moved Anastasia over and rested her head so she wouldn’t slide around too much on the leather seats. With a final look back at her, I stepped out. As I did I heard the click of the boot release popping open to reveal sandwich goodness.
Even from the sidewalk I could see Jasper’s eyes piercing the darkness searching for food, then his teeth came out to play as he saw the bag in my hand. The limo pulled away as soon as the boot was quietly closed so as not to wake up the sleeping duchess. Who’d have seen that coming? And I couldn’t tell a soul.
‘Hey, Jasper, how’s tricks?’ I called out as I walked in through the glass double doors. ‘I got fooooood,’ I announced and smiled at him.
‘Subs. Thanks, Bert. I could get used to this – being served from a limo.’ He chuckled and picked a couple of the Subs from the bag, leaving two for my own late-night consumption. ‘But thank you. My night has been quiet. How was yours?’
I looked at the doorman who was trying to kill himself by sandwich. ‘I was taken to the Policeman’s Ball. It was nice, and she was great company – Russian,’ I said and winked at him. I had to wait until he’d finished his mouthful for a reply; he had bitten off more than he could chew.
‘She sure was a looker. You’re a lucky man, Bert,’ he said while still gazing at the sandwich. Obviously, they were in love and I was interrupting their time together. ‘Has your date been here long or is she a newbie like you?’ Jasper was quick, and now he had forced the Sub into his way too small mouth.
‘Yeah, she has, grew up here,’ I lied and decided to leave the young lovers to their food dance. ‘Night, Jasper, enjoy.’ With a wave of his hand and the slap of a rogue slice of tomato hitting his workstation, I headed back to my domicile to rest and think about the night’s events.
The next day was just a good old-fashioned duvet day. My hunger grew as the hours ticked by and the beast that normally lay in slumber was restless again, so I knew I had to go out tonight to feed, but it was only going to be a quick run out.
The thing with the coven had got to me slightly, so I sent another email to Tracey giving her more info. The reply to my first one had vindicated my decision to contact her by email because the language my friend had used even made me blush – and as my blood doesn’t circulate, that was an amazing thing to happen.
Soon it was time to see if my neighbour was out and about. As the sun started to disappear over the skyline, I headed outside holding a nice steaming cup of tea wearing sweats and a T-shirt. As I closed the glass door behind me, my eyes flicked up to see the raven-haired woman. We shared a smile and both lifted our coffee cups.
Both of us just drank our beverages and smiled at each other, but then she surprised me by pointing at me, then herself and then pretending to drink. I broke into a bigger smile and nodded. The girl bounced on her toes excitedly, held up her index finger and trotted off back to where I assumed she worked. The happiness I felt again managed to quell the beast of its murde
rous thoughts, but I’m sure it would soon rise once again. Just then, the girl came back with a large pad of paper. She held it up so I could see it. It read: Tomorrow 6:30pm, downstairs, Rose.
I put my thumb up to her and nodded. Again, she beamed a winning smile and waved before making her way back inside. As she walked away, her head kept on flicking my way with a faint pink tinge to her cheeks and a warm smile on her face.
Once she disappeared out of sight I looked down onto the busy street, and just like yesterday there sat a limo. Standing next to it was the one and only Anastasia, who was dressed quite conservatively in jeans, knee-length brown riding boots and a black coat, for fashion not warmth. I noticed she was looking from me to the window where my neighbour had been standing. Then just like that she walked into my building, and I knew this would be trouble.
This time Sia just made her way up to my apartment. I thought the doorman would’ve stopped her and rung up to me. But no, I thought as the doorbell rang. I was mistaken, which I didn’t mind since it wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last. The bell rang again, so off I went to my doom. The peephole confirmed who I knew it was.
‘Evening Anastasia, sleep well?’ I asked as I opened the door wide. She just walked in, barging me aside. ‘No, please, come on in,’ I said quickly with sarcasm.
The woman threw her coat onto the chair and then threw herself onto the sofa. ‘Albert, you are causing some shit, you know that,’ she growled with anger flashing in her eyes.
I leaned against the wall and shrugged. ‘What do you mean, pray tell?’
‘Well, firstly, you left me in a limo all alone. That pissed off the old boys at the coven,’ Sia stated. ‘It is not the correct way to treat a lady, they said.’ She waved her hands about in frustration. ‘And you are continuing to flirt with that human opposite despite the fact that I have told you they are watching you.’
That pissed me off. ‘Yes, and I told them I don’t care. None of the coven lot have cared about me for over a hundred years, so why start now?’ I snapped angrily before moving across the lounge to retrieve her coat and hang it on one of the coat pegs by the door so I had a place to sit.