by Lana Melyan
“Was he a policeman, too?” asked Ruben.
“No, he was a carpenter.” Mike paused for a moment, then spoke again in a lower voice. “He was also a hunter. Twice a year they gathered with friends for a big hunt. But the rest of the year he hunted alone. Once, when he came back from the woods, I heard him telling my mother that he saw something in there. I was thirteen years old. I was already in bed when I heard his truck. When I came downstairs, I heard him saying, ‘I saw it. I’m sure it was one of them.’ My mom laughed and said, ‘Henry, it’s just a legend.’ ‘Aren’t you listening?’ said my father. ‘I’m telling you, I saw it. A young man on a horse disappeared right in front of my eyes. It was like he went through something and vanished, and the air rippled behind him.’” Mike cleared his throat, then continued. “I was hiding behind the kitchen door. I was afraid that if my father saw me, he’d stop talking. He was so excited. ‘That was it,’ he said. ‘The invisible wall. I found it.’”
Ruben could feel Hanna’s stare on him, but he didn’t glance back. “Did you believe him?” he asked Mike.
“Yeah, I did then,” said Mike. “He told the story to his hunter friends. At first they made jokes, asking how many beers he had that day, but then they asked him to show them the spot. But my father never found it again. So it became one of those stories that hunters tell each other in the dark woods around the fire.”
The Hunters had been powerless for such a long time, but they weren’t forgotten. Somewhere inside Ruben, sudden joy, like a little ball of sunshine, spread warmth throughout his whole body. “That’s how the legend stays alive,” he said quietly, his eyes fixed on the road. He knew Mike was looking at him from the corner of his eye, but he couldn’t suppress his smile.
They drove a couple of miles down the highway before Ruben noticed a narrow exit. He pulled over and parked the car in between the trees. After they put the body on the ground and covered it with branches, they drove Mike back to his car.
“You understand you can’t tell anyone what you saw today,” said Ruben.
Mike nodded and pushed the door open.
“It’s for your own safety,” said Hanna.
“I know,” said Mike. He was about to get out of the car, but he stopped and turned to Ruben again. “I just don’t get it. Why did you let them go?”
“There were already four bodies in that house. We couldn’t let the police find them, and if I’d killed those two, it would be me who had to get rid of them all. I needed them to clean up their mess. But don’t worry, we won’t let them get away with this.”
Mike nodded again. Ruben and Hanna sat in silence until he got in his car. Only when he drove away did they look at each other, exchanging a smile.
“That was a nice story,” said Hanna.
“Yeah,” said Ruben, starting the engine.
Fray paced his study, hands clenched into fists. It was such a pleasure to feel his blood burn in his veins again, to feel this enormous power fill up his body. It was back, all of it, and he couldn’t wait to get into the last fight to crush Samson’s kingdom, to kill off his precious family and watch him suffer alone forever.
All those years he had to move from place to place to keep the Hunters away from everything he was hiding—the Book, the daggers, the transitioning vampires. If he destroyed Samson’s empire, he wouldn’t have to do it anymore. He would finally be able to return to the castle, to his home where he belonged and which he missed so much. His secret mansion in Williamsburg where he lived with Joanne, and which he had kept safe all these years, was very dear to him, but it couldn’t replace the castle. When the mansion was detached from the other estates, he could avoid meeting people. Now the place was surrounded by houses, which made it harder for him to stay there unnoticed.
He couldn’t wait for the day when he’d be able to show Joanne the castle. She’d fall in love with it. It wouldn’t be easy for her to wake up to this different, new world. The castle would be a perfect place for her to live while adjusting.
All he needed to make his dreams come true was a couple of weeks. That’s how long it would take for the transitioning vampires to wake up. Without them, he was in danger of losing everything. When the Hunters were powerless, it was easy to get away from them. But now he had to be extremely careful. His plan to distract, to mislead the Hunters, was working. He didn’t care how many of his vampires he had to sacrifice to get what he wanted. There were only a few who were truly valuable; the oldest ones, who had been with him from the beginning, the ones chosen by him and turned by Joanne the first year after they met.
Right now he was very vulnerable, so he chose to stay hidden. He was sure that finding him would be the number one item on the Hunters to-do list. But based on the information he had, they were looking for the bodies and not him. Why? What was the point of finding the bodies, if they had nothing to kill them with? Shouldn’t they be trying to get the daggers first?
Samson was planning something. He wouldn’t have closed the Book or sacrificed Eleanor’s life just to lose them all over again right after bringing them back to life. Samson was the true First Hunter and the Keeper of the Book. He was the only one who had ever met the Higher Powers and could read the golden pages. There was something in that Book, something that gave him the strength to do what he did, and Fray supposed Craig knew what that something was. Otherwise he would never forgive Samson for taking Eleanor away from him for one and a half centuries.
What was Samson up to?
Fray’s cellphone rang. Hi picked it up. “How did it go, Roy?” asked Fray.
“The place is clean. We took care of the Staffords’ and Bob’s bodies.”
Fray distinctly remembered there being four bodies to be removed from the house. “What about the fourth body?”
“Yeah . . . about that . . .”
“What is it?”
“We had some complications,” mumbled Roy.
“What complications?” Fray demanded, losing his patience.
“There was a policeman. Before I could take care of him, the Hunters showed up. Ruben and Hanna.”
“Why? What did they want? And how are you still alive?”
“They came for that girl, the fourth body. They left us alive to clean up the rest of the mess.”
“What about the policeman? He’s a witness.”
“They took him, too.”
Fray hung up, confused. That girl was one of Hanna’s friends, he remembered now. They used her to get information about Amanda. Why would the Hunters waste their time, drop everything and come there just to get her body, instead of . . .
Ralph entered the study.
“Any news?” asked Fray.
“No. There’s no trace of Samson, and Craig is gone, too.”
“Find them,” shouted Fray.
“And then what?” roared Ralph. “Even if I find them, I can’t follow them. Who am I against Samson? It’s nothing like before. They have their powers back, they’ll sense me if I get close to them. At least give me the dagger so I have something to protect myself with.”
“I can’t give you the dagger. I can’t risk it.”
“So what do you expect me to do? After all we’ve been through together, you’re sending me out to die for nothing.”
“I need to know where he’s heading, what he’s up to. You are my strongest.”
“Yeah, and I’m also the one who put the dagger to Hanna’s throat. Or do you think they forgot that? You promised you’d turn me the day the Book opened. Instead you’re sending me on a suicide mission.”
“I can’t put to sleep all the oldest and strongest and leave myself with only newborns at such a crucial moment,” said Fray, lowering his voice. “Alec’s transformation won’t take long. Only a couple more days. I promise—as soon as he’s awake, I’ll turn you.”
“Meanwhile, I’m staying alive so I can be there when it happens,” snapped Ralph.
“Fine.” Fray glared at him. “I’ll find another way.”
Eleanor lay in the bath in Craig’s bedroom, covered in fluffy bubbles. She tried to relax, to convince herself that everything would be fine. But her boiling blood and every thought in her head fought against that concept, blocking her attempt to find and manifest something positive. She was in a fury, and it wasn’t easy to hide it. Gabriella, Melinda, and Nicole were dead, and who knew how many would die before they’d found a way to stop these monsters. She couldn’t ignore the fact that at this point they had nothing. No Book, no daggers, and they didn’t know where Fray, Alec, or the transitioning vampires were. When she asked Riley about Samson’s plan and Craig’s part in it, Riley only offered that it was a secret mission and our job is to find the transitioning bodies.
But it seemed like Riley himself knew what the mission was. Eleanor trusted Samson. She had been a part of his secret mission once, and she knew there must be a reason why Riley couldn’t tell her the truth. But her brain resisted cooperating with her feelings. She had died to prove her devotion to the Hunters’ mission, and it seemed unfair to her to be kept in the dark. She had to ask again. She needed to know that the plan would work, that Fray and Alec would get what they deserved. She owed them pain, and she had to be sure that, when the time came, she’d get to pay her debt.
She walked downstairs, the smell of frying meat and onion guiding her. She headed to the kitchen, where she found Riley with a big knife in his hand, cutting mushrooms at the counter loaded with vegetables. On the stove behind him, the steaming pan crackled.
“What are you doing?” asked Eleanor, surprised.
“Making dinner,” said Riley, shifting the mushrooms into the pan.
“Since when do you cook?”
Riley grinned.
“This is nothing.” Eleanor heard Ruben’s voice behind her. “You should see him sewing on buttons.”
“I’m hungry,” Hanna said, following him. She stepped to the counter and grabbed a bell pepper ring from the plate of sliced vegetables.
“You’re back,” said Ned as he came through the door, holding a bottle of red wine in each hand.
“Are we celebrating something?” asked Hanna. She kissed him. “Did you find something in the crypt?”
“No. At least not what we were looking for,” said Riley. “But it doesn’t mean we’re not allowed a glass of wine with food.”
“It was a waste of time,” said Eleanor.
“I wouldn’t say so,” disagreed Ned. “We killed the vampires, didn’t we? You yourself literally unscrewed two heads, and we staked the rest. Now all eight of them can sleep in their coffins forever.”
Eleanor caught the concerned look that Hanna exchanged with Riley. “What?” She shrugged. “They got what they deserve.”
“How about you?” asked Riley, sliding chopped tomatoes into a bowl. “Did you get the girl’s body?”
“Yes.” Hanna nodded gloomily, and she and Ruben told the others everything that had happened at Alec’s house.
“You let the vampires go?” Eleanor frowned.
“I didn’t have a choice,” said Ruben, uncorking one of the wine bottles.
“So you just let them go,” repeated Eleanor angrily.
“Yeah. You see, first I thought we’d have to kill them, then we’d clean the place and it would be nobody’s business if we carried out six dead bodies from someone's house. But then I thought, what if all six bodies wouldn’t fit in the trunk?”
Riley burst out laughing.
“This isn’t funny,” said Eleanor, shooting an angry glance at Riley. “What about the policeman? He saw you. What do we do if he shows up with ten others on our doorstep?”
“I wouldn’t worry about the policeman,” said Hanna. “He’s not going to tell on us.”
“What makes you so sure?” asked Ned.
“What is he going to tell?” said Ruben, filling the wine glasses. “That a vampire bit him and he helped us cover the killer’s tracks? Wherever he ends up after saying that, I’ll feel obligated to visit him at least once.”
“Okay,” said Riley. “Set the table, the food’s almost ready.”
After the dinner, Hanna and Eleanor volunteered to clean up the table and do the dishes. The boys grabbed a bottle of whiskey and went to the backyard.
Hanna turned to Eleanor. “How are you?” she asked gently. “Eleanor, I’m worried about you.”
“Why? I’m okay,” said Eleanor, putting the dirty plates in the dishwasher.
“No, you’re not. You’re angry. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I don’t know.” Eleanor sighed.
“Is it because of Craig? Because Samson took him away?”
“I miss him, yes. But it’s not that. I think it’s much worse for him. After waiting all these years . . .”
“Don’t worry about him,” said Hanna, handing her a wine glass. “He was prepared for this. He knew as soon as the Book was opened, he’d have to leave.”
“Hanna.” Eleanor put the glass back on the table. “Do you know what they’re up to?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Are you lying to me?”
“Of course not. I think Riley and Ruben know, but they won’t tell.”
“Why not? Since when can we not be trusted? I died for this, and I just want to know that after everything, we have a chance to make it right again.”
“It’s not about trust. This mission . . .” Hanna sat down. “It has something to do with the golden pages. Gabriella died because Samson shared one of those secrets with her. I think he is trying to protect us.”
That night Eleanor didn’t go home. She spent the rest of the evening with the others, planning their next move. It was around midnight that she went upstairs to Craig’s bedroom. She turned on the lamp on the nightstand, sat on the bed, and looked around. She remembered the night when she snuck up here, and how embarrassed she was when Craig and Melinda found her in Craig’s bed. That was only a week ago. So much had changed since then. She was Eleanor now, and everybody in this house was her real family. Now, nothing could make more sense, and nothing would make her happier than to see Craig walk through that door.
But Craig was far away. And it was Fray’s fault. Every bad thing that happened to her and her family was Fray’s fault.
Her phone rang.
“Hi,” Craig’s voice said.
“Hi,” she replied. She pulled her legs up and sat on the bed, leaning on the headboard. “Where are you?”
“We’re in the Vaernes airport. We need to get to this little place called Hommelvik. Samson’s renting a car.”
“What is in the Hom… Homvik?”
“Hommelvik.” Eleanor could feel Craig smile. “It’s surrounded by woods. That’s where we’re headed.”
“Woods? What’s in the woods?”
“Eleanor, I know you’re curious, but . . . I wish I could tell you more.”
“I know.” Eleanor breathed heavily. “Just tell me you’re not in danger. Are you?”
“I’m not. It’s you I’m worried about. I talked to Riley. He thinks you’re a little on edge. Promise me you won’t do anything reckless.”
“Riley said?” Eleanor rolled her eyes. “I’m killing vampires. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?”
“Promise me,” insisted Craig.
“Okay, I promise, and don’t worry, I’m fine.” She took the pillow sitting next to her and pressed it to her chest.
“What time is it there?” asked Craig.
“It’s midnight. What time is it in Norway?”
“Nine a.m. Are you at home?”
“No. I’m in your bed. Planning to fall asleep hugging your pillow.”
“I miss you so much,” said Craig with longing.
“I miss you, too.” Eleanor sighed.
“Samson’s coming.”
“Go. See you in my dreams,” said Eleanor.
But Eleanor’s dreams weren’t as pleasant as she wished them to be. In her dream, she was back in the old
times. The whole night was spent with a stake in her hand; she was chasing a vampire. A woman in a black gown. They were running through the woods first, but following the woman, Eleanor came out to a small, moonlit field. The woman ran toward the house standing on the other side of it. Before she could cross the field, Eleanor caught up with her. When Eleanor grabbed the woman’s shoulder to turn her around, the woman vanished. The next moment, Eleanor was back in the woods, chasing the same woman all over again.
12
Craig pushed the phone into the back pocket of his jeans and strode across the terminal toward Samson.
“Ready to go?” asked Samson.
Craig nodded, and as Samson headed to the exit, he followed, still thinking about Eleanor, recalling the sound of her voice. After waiting all those years for his Eleanor to come back to him, he had to leave her the day it happened, and there was nothing he could do about it because the mission always came first.
After her death, it took him a long time to understand it, to forgive her for secretly signing up for that suicide mission. But she was back now, and so were those forgotten feelings, the lust and passion. She was in his room, lying in his bed, and he wished to be the pillow she was hugging right now. That thought brought a smile to his face, but it faded the second he remembered their conversation. The questions he couldn’t answer, just like when she was Amanda. Craig could only imagine how angry it must make her. He didn’t want to have secrets from Eleanor, and he would gladly tell her everything he knew about this trip, especially the fact that she was a big part of Samson’s plan. But Samson said he had to give her time to become the Eleanor she used to be before dropping her into a new assignment. Besides, it wasn’t safe for any of them to know where he and Samson were heading and the meaning of their trip.
The rental, a gray Jeep Cherokee, waited for them in the parking lot. They got into the car, and a short moment later they were driving down highway E6, stretching along the fjord. It was a warm, sunny morning, but the howling wind blowing from the fjord was strong enough to rock the car. Craig reached into the bag in the back seat and pulled out his sunglasses. He put them on and looked at the clear blue sky. An airliner neared the low bridge crossing the highway, only a hundred meters ahead of them. It was decreasing, landing. Roaring, the plane sank lower, and its massive wheels touched the concrete of the bridge. At that moment the Jeep slid under the bridge, and when they came out on the other side, the plane was far away.