"Nikoli, I commend you for such a successful attack. I questioned the taking of the general, but after today, I have no doubts about your tactics and planning. Sasha and I will take the others and meet up with you at Tarnow in three days. I'm sure the roads and guards will be more alert with the disappearance of so many of their brethren. Good luck in Krakow; the Germans will need it."
Within an hour, all those who had been chosen for conversion had been properly injected by their assigned host. The trucks were loaded as discussed, the general and colonel took their places, and all departed. Nikoli's plan had been executed with precision and efficiency. Everything was going as planned with an added bonus. The fresh blood they had been harvesting was having a pronounced effect on each member.
As the clans started to grow in size and strength, the fresh blood of the young Germans (even though it had the taste of acid) was reviving them at a remarkable rate. The blood that had sustained their clans for the last centuries had only done that, allowed them to survive, but not thrive. The blood of the old and sick was no substitute for young, virile, strong cells. All of the men's physical features were becoming very prominent. What had once been small muscles were turning into sharply defined biceps and abdominals. Jawbones became straight and hard, all except Yakov. It mattered not how much new blood he ingested, his features, including his rotten teeth, remained the same.
The blood was also having a definite effect on the women. Svetlana and Sasha had always exuded beauty and desire, but with the fresh young blood their appearances were striking. Their hair carried a shiny new sheen. The hourglass figures of their youth were retuning in full force. Their blond and auburn hair seemed to almost flow when the sunlight hit it. They could easily replace the statues surrounding the Acropolis and Parthenon of ancient Greece. Even Nikoli was starting to examine Svetlana in a different light.
Nicole and Dmitri were taking on a remarkable transition. Nicole literally glowed with each new feeding. Her figure and features were taking on the qualities described by the ancient Greeks for the Goddess Venus. She was perfect in every way. She was starting to show a little, but it did not detract from her heavenly appearance. And Dmitri resembled the physique of a Greek God. All of his features were markedly poignant. He could be a poster boy for the SS. Sasha and Svetlana had been the first to notice how an unspoken love was building between the two. If one was assigned to go on a hunt, the other insisted on joining. The melding was producing more than just a child to bond the clans, but a love affair of youth.
Chapter 15
Nicole and Dmitri
The melding had been a success beyond belief. The clans were coming together in unprecedented fashion. There was no more talk of Ivan, Gregori, or Galina. The wounds of the past were healing. Each member was fulfilling their assigned tasks with meticulous precision. A general, a colonel and a host of others had been brought into the fold or taken as food. The strength of the clans was building not just in numbers, but physique.
Svetlana and Sasha were the first to notice another occurrence. Since the melding, Nicole was turning into a true woman and Dmitri was taking on a fatherhood status.
After the melding, the two who had given so much to weld the clans together stayed to themselves. They rarely spoke to anyone. Nicole had tried to talk to Nikoli about the experience, but he had no time for such childish problems. He was involved with the more dire matters at hand. “Go talk to your mother. Can you not see I am busy?”
She would sulk back to her quarters. When she approached her mother the answer was the same but for a different reason. “Grow up, Nicole. The world is not what it seems.” Svetlana wanted to console Nicole but had forgotten how. The coldness of Nikoli and the lack of affection displayed towards her, made her jealous that her daughter was forced to engage in activities she so longed to remember.
Dmitri, on the other hand, became more resolute in his actions. He was more forceful and outspoken when it came to assigning hunting groups. He would always interrupt in the meeting with, “And where will Nicole be?” His affections for her were growing each day. He found himself waking in the middle of the night and wondering what she was doing. He had never experienced such sensations before. He remained behind after one of the planning missions in order to talk to Kirilli. “Father, I have a question.”
“Yes, Dmitri. What is it? There is much work to do, so please make it quick.”
He quietly, but with great thought, asked the following, “Father, why do I find myself thinking of Nicole all of the time? What does it mean?”
The question took Kirilli by surprise. He and Dmitri had never spoken of the melding or how it would affect him. “Son, you should talk to your mother about such issues. We are at war and that is what I need to concern myself with. Your mother is better equipped to handle your thoughts.”
“Father, I have asked nothing of you through the years. I have followed your desires and requests with precision. I did not question the melding process or why it was necessary. I accepted the task assigned and performed my duty. I believe you could take some time out of the planning and answer my simple questions.”
Kirilli wasn’t prepared for the abruptness Dmitri displayed with his queries. He had addressed his father as only a true son could, with concern and respect. Dmitri was coming into his own. He was becoming a man, who would soon know the responsibilities of a father, provided the child survived the delivery process. The chance of a good delivery was usually 40% for the child and the mother. He had seen too many failed births in his days. He was hoping Nicole's pregnancy would be successful. A shared child would provide a bond between the clans neither side would dare break. The pain Dmitri would feel if the child and mother died during birth, had destroyed many a male vampire through the ages. The pain was worse than a mortal with a wooden stake in hand. It was as if their soulless bodies lost the will to feed. Some would refuse to feed while others would deliberately break the teeth required to fill them with the substance of life. It was a horrible death to watch.
“Forgive me, Dmitri. Yes, I have been preoccupied with other matters, but it is time I explained what is happening. Your mother could help, but she isn’t equipped with the knowledge I have on this topic."
Dmitri took a seat as his father continued.
"My son, the melding has changed your physiology and mind. When vampires meld, the partners become exactly that, partners for life. If one dies, the other will follow shortly. The loss is too heavy to bear. You and Nicole are permanently joined, I’m not sure if Nicole is aware of this. Both of you are forever connected. If she survives the birth, you two will be inseparable and will move on to start your own clan.”
“Father, leave? Why didn’t you tell me of this earlier?"
“Because I feared neither you nor Nicole would have agreed to the demands we made upon the two of you. The chance of the "melding" being successful was 50% at best. In many cases the female has been known to tear out the throat of her partner as her pain increases. Nicole came within centimeters of shredding your throat. That was one reason Svetlana acted as she did. She was honestly trying to protect her daughter from the future. The most trying time is yet to come. You have never been told how our clan came into existence. It is something we need to talk about." Kirilli's facial expression showed pain with the thoughts flooding into his mind from the past.
"Father, Sasha is my mother, yes?"
"Yes."
"You and Sasha survived. Why would you think Nicole and I would not survive?" Dmtri's question forced out a memory he kept suppressed for centuries; the night he and Sasha melded. Kirilli was never seen without a blouse or shirt over his chest, even when the temperatures outside were unbearably hot he remained covered. He did this so as not to remind Sasha how close she had come to killing him when they joined. Her fangs had dug deep in his neck ripping muscles and tendons. One carotid artery had been partially severed. Those present did the best they could in patching up the wound, but their skills were limited and cru
de. The scar which ran from the collar bone to below his left ear never properly healed. It would serve as a reminder to her and him how close she came to ending his existence. In order to keep the memory where it belonged (in the past), he chose to keep it covered up and hidden. She knew what had happened and didn't need to be reminded of the wound. When they had transformed back to human form, she was horrified at the damage she had inflicted on him. It took months for him to recover from the damage. She never left his side until he was strong enough to walk on his own. To ensure he survived, she would go out and feed on her own and upon returning would force two liters of blood into his neck. After each infusion she would utter the words, "Kirilli, you must not die; we have a son in the making."
"Son, you realize it wasn't your mother and I who started the clan, it was Gregori and Ravina. It was over four hundred years ago. They met at a party for the Czar you know of as Ivan the Terrible. They were the last of our breed. Ivan's advisers informed him of strange happenings in Siberia. He wanted to unite and control all of Russia, so he set out the armies to not only conquer lands and expand his power, but also to eliminate any rumors of people who sucked the blood of others. He almost completed his mission. Ravina was captured around Astrakhan and sent to serve Ivan. Gregori was there on business passing himself off as a man with unlimited means and a source for precious metals. She was very much like your mother, young, beautiful, and strong-willed. They eyed each other across the grand ballroom and knew instantly they were of the same mold. To cross Ivan would have resulted in their immediate demise, so they escaped the hall and made their way to Odessa. Ivan was furious when he realized they both came up missing. He scoured the countryside searching for the pair.”
"Father, I do not mean to interrupt, but what does this have to do with Nicole and I?"
"Because they gave themselves for all of us." Sasha slowly entered the room dressed in a dark purple velvet gown which greatly enhanced her female human form.
"Ravina is your father's mother. She died two months after giving birth to Kirilli. Gregori wanted to end his life, but knew the child would not survive without guidance and food. When he knew he was dying, he told your father and I how much he had missed his beloved Ravina, and now, maybe the two of them could achieve peace together again."
Kirilli stared off into space silently remembering his parents. He regrouped his composure as Sasha continued.
"Dmitri, the loss we experience when we lose a partner is unbearable. We do not have the human mechanism able to deal with grief. It consumes us and burns like a fire. At times, it is best we die rather than endure the pain which racks our bodies. Svetlana and I will do everything we can to ensure Nicole's delivery is successful and help with the care after the birth to ensure the child survives."
Sasha's words overwhelmed his mind, but it was answering questions that had been plaguing him of late.
"Does Nicole know?" Neither Sasha nor Kirilli answered the question. "I must see her immediately. She needs to know what is happening. Is it possible she is having the same sensations running through her veins?"
"Yes, she is."
"How do you know? How can you be so sure? I must see her and talk with her. I will depart for Tarnow immediately." Sasha walked over to her son and took his hand. "Dmitri, that won't be necessary."
"Mother, Father. I must leave now. She needs me and I need her." A voice soft and sweet entered the hall.
"And I you, Dmitri."
He gazed towards the open doors. Her shoulder-length brown hair moved over her shoulders with the light breeze blowing through the castle. She was wearing a sheer white dress. It accentuated her young features to the fullest: white skin, hard firm bosoms, and elegant flowing legs. Her hands were resting and rubbing her stomach. She wore a smile he had seen only with female humans that were expecting. He was drawn to her like a magnet.
He rushed to her and embraced her in his arms. Their lips lightly touched. Nicole pushed him back enough for her to move her hands back onto her stomach. "Dmitri, feel what awaits inside of me."
He placed his hands with hers on her stomach. The feeling of a new, pulsating beat could be detected in her womb. He smiled as only an expecting father could. Even though he was overjoyed to see her, Dmitri didn't understand why she had come.
"Nicole, why are you here? Surely you didn't travel alone? Do Nikoli and Svetlana know you are here?" He had a hundred more questions for her but was cut off before asking another.
"Because she needs you. No, she didn't travel alone, and yes, they know she is here," said Sasha. She took a deep breath and held her silence. Dmitri and Kirilli were still absorbing Sasha’s words when another female voice interrupted their thoughts.
"There is something the all-knowing Kirilli doesn't know about the issues of mother vampires" Svetlana entered the room showing off all of her feminine wiles. She had chosen a new bright blue dress that highlighted her eyes and hair. Her dress was expertly tailored. The sleeves stopped just above her wrists with the v-neck pattern flowing down, revealing half of her perfectly formed breasts. The bottom hem of her sleeves stopped one centimeter above her wrists and flowed down her body resting two centimeters above her ankles. Her shoes were black and shiny. She looked as if she was preparing to attend a major ball. No wonder men couldn't resist her, thought Kirilli.
"We are ingrained with our children for life. Call it telepathic if you like. We know what you are thinking and feeling when it is an issue of dire importance. Nicole has been calling out your name for two weeks now. Sasha and I have been passing messages through Yakov about her condition. We both agreed that you two should not see each other until the bulk of the missions Kirilli and Nikoli had assigned all of us were completed. It would be too dangerous for the both of you to be together. Dmitri, your attention for her would be too great on the battlefield. You had to concentrate on your missions."
Kirilli sat back down in awe. He had heard his mother talk of this hidden emotion (another wive's tale he had thought). He always wondered how his mother knew what to say and how to console him when he never spoke a word. Sasha continued.
"How many times in the past weeks have your thoughts traveled back to Nicole when either one of you were on a mission? Your thoughts weren't those of a child worrying about a young love; your thoughts were deep and probing for the safety of your partner. Yes, you looked after and cared for the men of each clan you worked with, but your protective instincts were saved for each other. You would gladly die for each other or die together. Can you say the same for anyone else in the clans? Life without each other is unthinkable. Did either of you ever wonder why you have not been teamed or sent out on the same patrol? Did you not find it odd, Dmitri, that your father seldom mentioned her name in your presence when planning a mission?"
Dmitri searched the memory banks for mention of her name. It wasn't there. Kirilli would only mention her name if he and Sasha were discussing the coming child.
"Nicole, when was the last time your father and I spoke of Dmitri and the assigned missions he received?" Nicole probed her mind for mention of his name. She too could not recall. Dmitri and Nicole embraced each other tighter as Svetlana continued.
"It was not safe for either of you to go out together. Your attention would have wavered from the mission and possibly jeopardized everyone and everything Nikoli and Kirilli have been working towards."
"It was bad enough having to watch you two join," came a male voice. The voice was hard yet quiet at the same time. “We men are small creatures when it comes to these matters, eh Kirilli?" Nikoli entered the room wearing what appeared to be an old uniform from the Russian Revolution. The coat was dark crimson, as were the pants. The breeches had a dark yellow stripe running down both outer sides. The tunic was heavy with metals from his past victories. He entered the room as if he was going to receive a medal for valor and honor, possibly the Pour Le Merit. The others let his words die out as he came into the room taking a place of prominence with his wife.
"Why have I been kept in the dark? Am I the only one who could not see this?" inquired Kirilli.
"Not at all, my new ally. I only learned of the bizarre events a few days ago when Sasha showed up at the door. I was hoping she had visited for another reason."
Kirilli knew what Nikoli meant. "Romanov!" came the word as Kirilli started to rise from his chair.
Nikoli broke out in nervous laughter. "My friend, I meant no disgrace to your wife. Rather making sure you were listening with both ears."
"I trust you will watch your tongue...”
"Enough," cried the women in unison. "Enough."
Svetlana took the lead. "The pride of our clans did not sacrifice their virginity for the sake of two old men to continue arguing over matters of such triviality. They did this for our survival and the continued existence of our way of life." The men's expressions changed from two bullies on the street to that of whipped puppies.
"Nicole, Dmitri, the time is coming where it will be very difficult for the two of you to be separated. Your longing for each other will supersede any feelings you have ever encountered. The thought of being apart will override any commands or orders the men, or we women, could place on yourselves." Svetlana took a long deep breath. She knew the wrong words could result in another beating from Nikoli.
"Because of the bond growing between the two of you,” continued Sasha, "we have decided that Nicole move into Bezpieczenstwo.” The men were dumbfounded and speechless. "You and Dmitri will share the master bedroom prepared many months ago."
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