Dmitri's body pulsed and pulled hard on Nicole’s figure. His movements were rough and hard. She did not pull away, only bit deeper into his toned, hard shoulder. Blood and sweat covered her mouth. She sucked and licked the open wound she had produced. He pulled her harder and harder. His body was building up a fluid he didn’t identify; he only knew it would have to be expelled into his mate.
The room was filled with thundering cries from all of the participants, even the young ones. They did not understand at first why they had to be part of this exercise. Wasn't this only for the older ones? Instincts quickly kicked in, and they too were experiencing the rush of adrenaline through their small bodies. They would need these new-found senses later if the mating proved successful.
Dmitri's body was pumping into Nicole’s harder and harder. His cries were a cross between pleasure and pain. Her body was wrapped hard against his. Blood slid down his back from her claws that had dug in deep. He could feel the pressure coming to a climax. In an effort to release himself from the building pressure, he moved his legs underneath his body and then effortlessly thrust them upward into the air. Nicole's form clung to his as he moved their bodies to a vertical stance. His movements only tightened her grip on him. Blood and saliva trickled out of his shoulder. The others howled and screamed. They knew the moment was coming, the moment that could either seal the truce or end in shattered bodies and no hope of unification. With the exception of Svetlana (still lying on the floor dazed, with a triumphant Nikoli watching guard), all had fallen in line. They could taste the moment building. With each movement of the two young ones, the clan member’s crying became louder and louder. It was as if Bach, Mozart, and Wagner were bringing their symphonic masterpieces to a crescendo.
The bodies of Dmitri and Nicole were suspended in time. For a short moment neither moved. The muscles were bulging out of his skin, taut and hard, giving the impression they could break at a moment's notice. Nicole's legs were wrapped tight around his torso. Even the talons from her feet were locked into his hide. They both recognized release was an instant away. Kirilli's mind knew the moment of truth was a second away. Would Nicole rip him to shreds as he injected his liquid into her? Would Dmitri dig his fangs into her shoulder as she had his, or would he become mad and rip open her throat? He anxiously watched and waited.
Dmitri leaned his head back and let out a cry that overtook all the sounds in the room. The sound was loud and ferocious. It drowned out all other howls and screams. It filled the room to capacity. Eardrums ruptured and split with the noise. Glass ornaments which had been delicately cared for over the years shattered. A painting of a man long forgotten fell from its mooring on the wall in a crash of wood and canvas. He was there. This was the moment. He must complete the task and relieve himself of the painful, pleasurable torture he felt. He released one more ear-splitting howl and filled Nicole's body with his warm fluid. It was now her turn to act. She released her fangs from his shoulder revealing the wound she had inflicted, a deep black hole. His blood and flesh clung to her fangs and mouth. She let out a scream so high pitched that the glass items which had survived Dmitri's decibel level now fell victim to her cries. They broke and fell like a house of cards. The others were silent. The moment was here. Enemies or Allies? Friend or Foe? Survival or Extinction?
His claws dug deep into her back missing the spinal cord by a mere centimeter. His eyes were wide and wild. He kept pumping his fluid into Nicole. Her human senses were in awe. The feeling of his warm fluid being poured into her was unbelievably exhilarating. She pulled hard on him, oblivious to any other activities. She did not notice or detect the look of his eyes or the feeling of his claws digging deep into her back.
Kirilli waited. What would be next? Dmitri, don't kill her. Please Dmitri, don't kill her. If Dmitri did, he couldn't fathom what would happen next. If he shreds her to pieces, the opposing clan in their present form would erupt into mortal combat with the offending clan and only a handful would survive the clash. Those who did survive, would leave the room with all hopes of survival dashed and crushed into oblivion, as the painting that lay wrecked on the floor.
Dmitri's mouth opened wide; his polished incisors homing in on her carotid arteries that were so prominently protruding from her former neckline. His face moved quickly towards her neck, skimmed by her rivers of life and landed into the rough hide of her left shoulder. His fangs sank deep into her hide. The moment had passed. She pulled the last of his fluid into her, lowered her head and placed her mouth back on the wound she had opened. It was done. The mating had been successful. The clans would now be fully united and become a force and opponent the Germans could never have imagined in their deepest, darkest. nightmares.
The couple slowly lowered themselves onto the mattress, locked onto each other’s wounds. The wounds they had inflicted on each other would heal in time. With the melding successful, Kirilli and Nikoli would now be able to move forward with the plans of expelling the invaders.
One by one, each of the members transformed back into human form. All were exhausted from the mating. The sound of human heartbeats was replacing the sounds of screams and guttural vibrations. Kirilli was the first to change. He moved towards a window and opened the large glass hinged venetian structure. The smell of fresh air flooded the room. The cool sweet air helped the others with the changing process. Kirilli walked over to the bed and placed a cover on the couple. He noticed they were changing, slowly. but changing. It would be hours before they fully recovered from the event, and when they awoke, their bodies would need a fresh supply of blood to replenish the fluids they had spent.
Everyone was now fully transformed to human form. Kirilli moved towards Nikoli and extended a hand. "Nikoli, it is done. May our pact survive the test of time. We have work to do."
Nikoli agreed by accepting his hand. "Kirilli, the Germans have no idea what is in store for them. My dear Kirilli, we are the master race." He let out a sinister laugh with the words.
"Nikoli, they will need to feed when they awake."
"Fear not comrade, I have already seen to their needs." Kirilli asked no more questions. He announced it was time for all to leave the room and let the young ones recuperate.
One by one they filed out of the room. Kirilli stood as a guard watching all of them leave. Nikoli went over to Svetlana and helped her up from the stone floor.
"Dear wife, will you never learn?" She ignored his words and moved towards the door. Kirilli and Sasha were waiting for the two.
"Sasha, I believe it would be wise for you and Svetlana to wait in here and tend to them when they awake. They will need some reassurances." Sasha nodded in agreement. Svetlana wanted to protest but her tongue reminded her it wouldn't be wise. Nikoli had almost separated one of her feeding teeth.
Kirilli took one more look into the room, kissed his bride on the check, pulled a lever that would lower the housing which would extinguish the candles in the chandelier. He pulled the wooden doors behind him as he exited the room. The sound of the latch catching echoed down the hall.
It is done.
Chapter 11
The Plan
With the melding completed and only minor injuries to report, Nikoli and Kirilli could sit down and hammer out how to take on the Germans and rid themselves of this abomination that had infested their country. The Nazis must be convinced to leave Krakow. Their presence and arrogance would no longer be tolerated. Kirilli had vowed over a century ago to never take a human life in vain or for pure sport. But these men were not human. They were harbingers of death. And death could only be dealt with by actions they understood, death. This man, Adolf Hitler, they so worshipped, would feel the weight of a united Boirarsky and Romanov plan. The Germans were about to witness and experience warfare on a scale never imagined.
They retired to Kirilli's study to discuss their upcoming maneuvers. The others were allowed to go where they pleased. They had all survived watching Nicole and Dmitri without killing each other, so a few more hours in
human form should be much easier. Nikoli knew his wife would behave; she was still recovering from her meeting with the wall.
The men entered the study and took their seats. "Kirilli, I had forgotten how exciting it is to watch and witness. I believe you might actually make a man out of your boy someday." Kirilli was not amused.
“Nikoli, your humor is not appreciated. It was necessary for all us to go through with the joining. And Dmitri has already proven his manhood more than you can imagine. Now, can we get down to business or shall we waste more time arguing, while the Germans continue with their plans?” Nikoli did not like being challenged by anyone, but Kirilli was right. The Nazis were the immediate threat. All other matters could wait.
“My apologies, Kirilli. Yes, Dmitri has proven himself many times over and I am satisfied with how he handled today’s events.” Encouraged that a stand-off had been averted, Kirilli pulled out a fresh piece of paper, dabbed the quill pen, and prepared to take notes.
“Nikoli, you have had much time to think of a plan. Shall we proceed?” Yes, Nikoli had embraced the opportunity to put down on paper all his experiences and training. Even he had impressed himself with all of the forgotten plans and battles he had been a part of.
“Yes, I am ready to proceed.” He reached into his right breast pocket and produced a small leather bound book. The cover was well worn by the ages but the papers inside were a crisp white. Nikoli had been very busy.
He opened the manual and proceeded with the outline he had been meticulously working on.
“May I proceed, Kirilli?”
“Yes my friend, proceed.”
With the mannerisms of a general resurrected from the past he plunged into the work.
1. 1939 The Germans invaded Poland
2. Wehrmacht left-SS-Gestapo took over occupation duties
3. Local population is being rounded up and shipped west
4. Our time honored agreement has been voided
5. Both clans have resorted to hunting to maintain a food supply
6. The Germans have been too efficient with their methods of relocation - food supply is approaching zero
7. Clans must unite for survival
Nikoli looked up with his empty black eyes, “Any questions? Have I addressed the main topics of concern?”
Kirilli wrote down a few more notes, placed the pen back in its holder, reviewed what he had written and responded. “Nikoli, so far so good. You have addressed the main issues and concerns. Now, what are your thoughts about changing the current circumstances?” Nikoli leafed through his pages.
“War my friend, war. We must attack them in force. We should surround the Hotel Amadeus and eliminate every officer and guard that resides in the plush palace.”
“Nikoli, think man, think. Surely in all of your battles and victories, a head-on attack would end in disaster. We might gain a temporary victory, but it would be fleeting.”
Nikoli flashed an evil grin. “Just making sure you are listening Kirilli. Of course a head-on attack would be pointless.”
“Nikoli, this is no time for jesting. Our lives and very existence are at stake. If you con…” Nikoli cut him off.
"I am well aware of the current situation. Stephan and Yakov have the wounds to prove it.” The tension in the room was mounting. Both men were preparing to square off. Despite the rest of the clan accepting the union, the leaders were finding it more difficult to follow their own lead.
“Nikoli, I have hated you since the days of Gregori and what happened to him. I also know of the agreement you underhandedly secured with Major Ernst. You have no intention of honoring any agreement when you believe there is nothing left to be gained.” Kirilli reached into his left breast pocket and threw a wooden stake onto the table.
“And I know you were behind the attempt to end my life. There is the proof, you son-of-a-bitch! You and Svetlana tricked me into going to Krakow to meet with Captain Brown. It was a trap and you conceived it. Trust me my friend, I will kill you where you stand. Your days of treachery are coming to a quick end.” Nikoli was truly shocked at the sight of the stake and the accusations being leveled against him. He might not like Kirilli or any of the Boirarsky clan, but a wooden stake? A vampire with a stake directed towards another was a declaration of war, plain and simple.
“Kirilli, trust me when I say this, I have no knowledge of such a trip or plot against your life. If I did, I would have seen to it myself.”
Both men had risen from the chairs and were staring hard into the other’s eyes. Their blood was starting to boil; it was seeping out of their nail beds and mouths. The sound of jawbones cracking was intensifying with each moment. If something didn’t happen quickly, they would transform and engage in deadly combat. A knock came at the door. Sasha slowly pushed the door open.
“Kirilli, may we enter?”
In a tone that turns blood to ice he yelled back, “Woman, what do you want?” His voice was guttural and hateful. Sasha sensed the meeting he and Nikoli were engaged in was going terribly wrong. Without an invitation she and Svetlana entered the room. The women could feel the tension and taste the staleness in the air as both men were on the verge of conversion.
“Kirilli, I have good news. Dmitri and Nicole are resting comfortably. They have changed back and are licking each other’s wounds. They have no hate in their eyes. They both understand what they did is for our survival. Now when are you two going to grasp our dilemma?” In all the years Kirilli had been with Sasha, never had she addressed him in such a tone. He could see the fury in her eyes that had captivated him the night he took her.
“If you two are going to kill each other, then make sure neither one of you survives. Svetlana and I will come up with a plan of our own to ensure the continuation of our survival.” Both men could feel their blood and pulses slowing. The temporary anger that had boiled up between them wasn’t about current events, but the past. It was time to not only suppress them, but eliminate them entirely. The Germans were the enemy, not each other. Each man took his seat covered in a pool of sweat. Svetlana was the first to notice what was resting on the table but spoke not a word.
“Dear wife,” queried Nikoli. “Do you have any knowledge of what lies on this table? I have just been informed of the trip you took to Krakow some time ago with Kirilli.” Her answer could save her or end her life. She moved her tongue over the loose tooth from the melding.
“Dear husband,” she was trying to find words of survival and not death. “I felt that if Kit….” Sasha cut her off, sensing the words Svetlana was trying to compose would be her demise.
“What difference does it make now? Our children have sacrificed everything for us. Kirilli, I have hated you and loved you at the same time for centuries. The night you took me was utter euphoria, until I realized your gift of immortality and a new life could exist only upon feeding on my fellow countrymen and women. Even though we did it as compassionately as possible, they were our friends. Now the Germans have given me a reason to use this gift to its fullest. They have invaded our country and home. They are eliminating our food source and they are the REAL ENEMY. I’m sure Svetlana will provide an explanation when the time is right, but right now, all that matters is propagating a plan that rids us all of the Nazis and their Third Reich!” Her words bounced and echoed off the walls of the room. Neither man said a word. “Svetlana, let us take our leave. I believe our men need to rethink their positions.” Svetlana gladly nodded in agreement.
The women exited the room and pulled the doors closed behind them. Svetlana was about to thank Sasha for her kindness and saving her life, but instead was met by blues eyes filled with fire.
“If you ever threaten my husband’s life again, I shall finish what Nikoli started today. I will take your tooth, place it on a necklace, and wear it around my neck as a symbol of defiance and victory. Do you understand me, whore?”
Svetlana could not respond. Sasha’s words were not idle threats; she detected that in her tone. She quietly rep
lied, “Understood,” as they both moved down the hallway corridor to the bedroom.
Nikoli and Kirilli took stock of the situation. Sasha was right, very right. They were letting the past cloud their vision of taking on the Germans. They had come within minutes of ripping into each other. Cooler heads now prevailed in the room. "Nikoli, I apologize for my actions. It must be the low intake of fresh blood affecting my judgment and thoughts. My apologies.”
“I agree, Kirilli. The loss of fresh blood is a factor for both of us.” They both looked at the weapon Kirilli had thrown on the table. Each stared at it without a word. That would be addressed later.
“Nikoli, I know you have excellent suggestions in your notes, please continue.” He went back to the page he was reviewing when the outburst started.
“Kirilli, let me outline how we should go about dealing with our common enemy.
The targets identified are as follows:
Major Ernst
Colonel Eckhardt
General Von DerGraff
General Heidrick
Heinrich Himmler
Adolf Hitler
“I believe we need to concentrate on Ernst, Eckhardt, Heidrick and Himmler. I have gained immeasurable information and knowledge over the last few months in how our enemy operates and conducts business. They have a very rigid set of rules they conform to. They do not make decisions by themselves. I am convinced we can infiltrate the SS by converting at least two dozen soldiers into our respective clans.” Kirilli was astounded at the thought of performing a full conversion and bringing the Germans into their clans as full members.
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