Strigoi Redemption

by Hall, K R

  “I was only told that I had it and that was all,” Victor said. “Here is how it manifested for me…

  “At six years old, I was already waking up nightly in a sweat and screaming in pain from the changes. Which is probably the reason why they felt it was time to tell me about this family secret I’d previously heard nothing about.

  “A few months later, I shifted into a huge and grotesque creature with matted hair and huge fangs protruding out from my gums. It rose up on its knotted haunches and stooped as its wrinkled face stared at its reflection in the bedroom mirror. It gave off an aura of pure hate and evil in its dull, black eyes. This was my strigoi.

  “After this initial sit down at the dining room table, there was little to no conversation about the curse and what it meant for me. I just knew that, now, I was different from other kids.

  “I would see creatures at night that ran the gamut from looking like monsters to others looking mostly like people, to others still, looking more like animals— but they all had one thing in common— they were all translucent— I could see through them,” Victor said.

  “How terrified you must have been,” Alana said.

  “These ‘dream creatures’ are what I considered strigoi to be— as I now realize, that’s precisely what they were but, at the time, I didn’t know that. I didn’t realize that these dream creatures might be strigoi and the animals might be shifters until much later in my life because no one told me.

  “In my family, the ability to ‘see things’ is considered a legitimate ability— so I didn’t have to deal with too many people telling me it wasn’t real, but my ability was considered a curse, a taboo, and something to keep swept under the rug— so I was never allowed to discuss it or talk about it openly. Which, in turn, created another type of environment in which to live where I was encouraged to suppress my gifts. Whether or not they want to accept it, my brothers all have some level of spiritual ability, too,” Victor said.

  “How old are you?” Alana asked.

  “Do you truly want to know?” Victor asked her nervously.

  “I asked, didn’t I?” She shook her head and laughed. “Come on, Victor; I know strigoi age a lot slower than humans.”

  “I am six hundred and fourteen,” Victor said. He was afraid that Alana would be scared off by his age.

  “WOW!” Alana began in a whisper. “You will have to watch me get old and die, won’t you?”

  Victor nodded his head. He watched her as she turned her face away from him and it tore at his heart, he wanted to offer her comfort, but he knew he needed her true feelings.

  “How do you feel about that?” Alana asked, taking his hand into hers.

  “I want you, Alana, for however long the fates allow. When we mate and exchange blood, your lifespan will equal mine. Strigoi can live to be two thousand years old. We strigoi have magic in us unlike anything you have ever seen. I can change into any form I choose as well as turn invisible. Through the years, the magic evolved with the times. One perk is when I change back to a man, my clothing returns with me.

  “Strigoi know who their true mate is from the moment he smells her— if she is over the age of twenty. She gives off a scent that only he can smell and it’s more appealing to him than any other scent on Earth. Once he knows who she is, there is no other woman for him, all he wants is her. I went a very long time without finding my mate. The day you were born, I heard the coo of a dove that an old woman had foretold. I performed the ritual that she told me to do so I could find you,” Victor said.

  “Dinner is served,” said the cook.

  Victor stood, holding his hand out for Alana, and escorted her to the dining room. The steaks and the corn on the cob were grilled while the sweet potatoes baked. The steak was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and seared brown on the outside— just the way Victor liked it. He forked a steak off the serving tray and handed it to Alana. He casually spooned a bite of salad into his mouth and methodically chewed and swallowed it.

  When dessert was brought out, Alana turned her eyes upon the chocolate ice cream sundae, a ruby-red cherry perched atop the inviting drizzle of gooey syrup. Colorful sprinkles were tauntingly scattered upon the chocolate mound of goodness. Victor chuckled as he saw Alana pick up her spoon and eagerly reach for the delectable dessert. He enjoyed watching her delight as she finished it off.

  Chapter 4

  After a light breakfast, Victor reminded Alana that the staff was off today before he went to work. Alana began cleaning the house. Alana had just finished cleaning and was in the kitchen looking through the freezer, thinking about fixing dinner, when she heard a noise at the front door. She cautiously walked into the foyer and listened. Alana heard keys jingling followed by the sound of a key entering the lock. Her heart raced as she waited to see who was going to come through the door. Alana didn’t think it was Victor, but who else had a key? When the door opened, and a huge man— a man that wasn’t Victor— came into the house, she did the only thing she could think to do. She screamed.

  Alana saw the man’s shocked face. She was in full fight or flight mode. She turned and ran up the stairs to her suite of rooms. Alana screamed when she looked over her shoulder and saw the strange man following her. She threw herself into her room, shut and locked the door, and grabbed the bedroom phone. When a knocking came from the door, she ran into the bathroom and locked the door. Alana’s shaking fingers dialed Victor’s cell phone and prayed that he would answer quickly.

  “Hi, Alana, I was just finishing my lunch.”

  “Victor, there’s someone in the house,” Alana said in a rushed whisper.

  “What?”

  Alana looked around the bathroom and realized that she had backed herself into a corner. The only window was too small for her to escape through.

  “He came in the front door. Oh, God, Victor I am trapped.” She heard the bedroom door being broken down and she screamed. “I’m in my bathroom. I have nowhere to go if he comes in.”

  Victor growled. His mate was in danger and she was alone because the staff had Thursdays off. “Stay in the bathroom, Alana. I’m on my way.”

  As Victor hung up, Alana realized that there was no sound on the other side of the door. She pressed her ear against the door, hoping to hear something. Listening hard, Alana tried to figure out if the man was still in the room. Surely, he would have left after he realized that she was calling for help. Robbers wouldn’t stay in the house when they know help is on the way. Or would they?

  ~ ~ ~

  Victor’s office was too far away to reach Alana by car. He shifted into an eagle and flew to his home. It seemed like it was taking forever to reach her. Victor looked to the windows of her suite. He could see Alana’s face in the bathroom window. As Victor made to land on the windowsill, he shrank from an eagle to a raven so he could enter the window. He was relieved when Alana opened the window allowing him inside. Victor hadn’t shifted in front of Alana before. He quickly shifted to his human form.

  “Alana, are you alright?” Victor asked as he looked her over from top to bottom to make sure she was not injured.

  “I am now that you’re here.”

  “Stay here in the bathroom while I check to see if the intruder is gone,” Victor said firmly. Her safety was his number one concern.

  Several minutes later, Alana saw Victor exit the house. Her heart jumped into her throat when she saw the man standing in the driveway waiting for Victor. She started to run from the bathroom to help Victor when she noticed that he knew the man. Victor was screaming at the strange man and pointing at the house. When the man tried to say something, Victor angrily pushed past him and came into the house.

  “Alana! Dragă, it’s safe to come out,” Victor yelled when he came back inside.

  Alana heard Victor coming up the stairs, but she was afraid to leave the bathroom. She squealed when she heard him knock on the bathroom door.

  “Alana, it’s me. You can open the door,” Victor said from the other side.

&
nbsp; Alana threw open the door and ran into his arms. “I was so scared.”

  “It’s fine,” Victor said as he rubbed her back. He felt her stiffen in his arms and he turned to see his brother Ladinas standing in the busted doorway. “Damn it, Ladinas. I told you to wait downstairs.”

  “I just wanted to make sure she was okay,” Ladinas said. “I chased after the man that ran out of the house. I lost him, though.”

  “Alana, this is my brother, Ladinas. I had asked him to install a new security system. He said that when he was walking the perimeter of our home, he heard you scream and saw the man run out.”

  “I didn’t mean to scare you, Alana,” Ladinas said in a sheepish tone.

  Victor pulled Alana from his chest and gently kissed her forehead.

  “I am sorry to have scared you, Alana,” Ladinas said again and offered her his hand. After looking at Victor for reassurance, Alana shook Ladinas’ hand.

  They made their way downstairs to the living room. Alana and Victor shared the sofa while Ladinas sat in the recliner across from them. Victor and Ladinas talked about the new security system and what additional features Victor wanted to add. Additional security cameras and alarm sensors would be put up around the lower level windows. The ones that were already on the doors would be upgraded for better imagery. Each floor would have a control panel that would also have a feed for each camera. Ladinas showed both Victor and Alana how to bypass the window sensors if they wanted the security system on but have windows open during the nice weather. He also taught them how to activate the new alarms and cameras.

  “I think the rest of our family is going to like you, Alana,” Ladinas said as he packed up to leave.

  “I’m sure we will get along fine,” Alana said, smiling.

  Victor escorted Ladinas to the front door.

  “She’s all that isn’t she?” Ladinas asked.

  “Yeah, and a bag of chips,” Victor replied.

  “Um, yeah, that’s kinda an outdated phrase, but you're getting it,” laughed Ladinas.

  “Make sure everyone knows Alana is my mate. She is everything to me and I will not allow anyone to be rude to her,” Victor began. “I want to learn from her how to be happy again; I want to see the world through her eyes. If you showed her a gold coin or a kitten and asked her to pick one, she’d take the silly cat every time. There’s simple wisdom there, and I love it.”

  “Have you explained to Alana what mates are?” Ladinas asked.

  “No, I have not had a chance. She is timid and I will not have her scared off,” Victor said.

  “No problem, baby brother,” Ladinas said, smiling as he descended the stairs and headed to his car.

  Victor returned to the living room and Alana. “Are you okay? Do you want me to call the office and tell them I won’t be back in?”

  “No, you need to go back, you have clients waiting to see you. Thank you for coming to my rescue,” Alana said.

  “You needed me; there was no other option than to come. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you, Alana,” Victor replied. “The soft curve to your smile. If only you knew how simply taken I am with you.”

  Victor leaned in and kissed Alana gently on the lips before leaving her alone once again. Alana went back upstairs and looked at the broken door. She picked up what she could. Ladinas had said that their brother Grigore would be around in about an hour to replace the door. Victor had talked about his brothers, but she hadn’t met any before today.

  ~ ~ ~

  The thought of Alana sleeping safely inside his home gave Victor some degree of comfort. Victor wanted to tell Alana they were mates. He was confident she would be his. Victor assured himself that it was only a matter of time. He wasn’t exactly sure how he would woo her. Usually, he had to fight women off. His inner beast relished the challenge.

  Victor breathed deeply, taking in her delicious sweet scent. He sighed, closing his eyes. A scream suddenly pierced the quiet night. Victor was instantly on his feet, racing to her bedroom. As Victor burst through Alana’s bedroom door, she was turning on the light. A black figure disappeared out the window. Victor sprinted in the same direction as the intruder.

  Both the intruder and Victor rolled as they landed out of the second-story window. Victor saw that the intruder was limping as it ran off. The intruder shifted into a raven and flew off. The black bird blended in with the night sky, making it difficult to follow. Everything happened so fast, Victor was unable to tell of the intruder was male or female.

  Victor’s inner beast urged him to turn around and go to Alana and claim her. Victor was in control of his strigoi, there would be no claiming tonight. Alana had just arrived, there would be plenty of time to woo her and win her heart. Victor listened again to the sounds in the night for anything that he might have missed while regaining control over his beast. The beast agreed with guarding Alana.

  He returned to Alana’s bedroom, stopped and peered through the open door. Alana hadn’t noticed his return. Victor watched Alana pace as she pursed her lips. Victor’s heart hammered in his chest at the sight. He wanted to nibble that lip, kiss her so deeply she wouldn’t know where she began and he ended. A sense of rightness flowed over him.

  Alana suddenly seemed to sense he was there and turned toward the open door. Victor casually walked into Alana’s bedroom. She stopped pacing and his gaze met hers. She gulped. Victor standing there with blazing, red-rimmed eyes was even scarier than the invader. When he turned her way to smile, a gesture meant to reassure and give confidence, he gave away the worry he meant to mask.

  “Did you get him?” Alana asked.

  “No. Are you okay?” Victor asked. “Did he hurt you?” He moved toward her and her eyes widened.

  “I… I’m fine,” Alana stammered. “I heard a noise and woke up. I saw someone run away as you came in.”

  “Whoever it was, they were fast and didn’t leave a scent,” Victor said, rubbing his hand down his face. “He didn’t seem to be here to burglarize the place; it was like he was searching for something.”

  Alana wrapped her arms around herself. Before she could stop him, Victor was sitting on the bed beside her and wrapped her up in a hug. Victor rested his chin on Alana’s head and rubbed her back soothingly. Feeling his strong arms holding her was comforting; she relaxed into his body. Victor felt her tension leave her and he relaxed a little.

  Victor’s cellphone chimed, indicating he received a text message. He retrieved it from his jeans pocket and saw that it was from Nicolae explaining that the alarm system had been tampered with. Victor cursed under his breath. He would need to contact Ladinas in the morning to install a new system that was tamper-proof even from shifters.

  “I must go now, dragă, and help with the patrols. I swear you will be safe from now on,” Victor said.

  “Thank you,” Alana replied.

  Chapter 5

  Alana tossed from one side to the other. Her bed that had been so carefully made became a tangle of covers. For a little while, she would close her eyes and be conscious of breathing slowly, rhythmically. She knew that Victor was out patrolling the grounds with his men and she would be safe. As the night wore on, thoughts tumbled through Alana’s mind in rapid succession. Problems she had already solved reemerged for another examination. Things she mustn’t forget for the next day nagged at her.

  After a tortured eternity, the room began to get lighter and the birds chirped. Aside from a few fitful half hours of vivid dreams, Alana didn’t sleep a wink. She threw back the covers and stumbled out. Alana brushed her teeth, ran a brush through her hair quickly, got dressed, and headed downstairs to find Victor.

  ~ ~ ~

  Alana and Victor were sitting on the chairs that surrounded the patio in the unusually warm breeze for a late September morning. Victor had stayed up all night making sure that Alana was safe through the night. She could tell he was exhausted.

  Her brain was constantly searching for any sign that everything was alright. Alana’s stomach
shifted uneasily and she noticed that the hands that she was hugging herself with were pinching into her skin. Alana released her hands, but then she couldn’t figure out what to do with them, so instead, they clasped and unclasped each other as if in constant need of touch and reassurance. But what her hands needed was to be able to touch Victor, to run her hands over his skin.

  Alana knew she was going to Hell. She’d had lustful thoughts about Victor. His presence was overwhelming and her body reacted with lust so intense it made her head spin. An inconsequential little voice said she should stop this because it was wrong. Alana was confused as she had never felt this way before.

  “Breakfast is served, Victor,” Alana said. “And I am hungry.” She poured herself a cup of coffee and started eating her pancakes.

  Victor forked sausage onto his plate and smothered his pancakes in maple syrup. They ate in companionable silence. As he sat sipping his coffee after breakfast, he glanced at Alana. Her emotions were not easily hidden on her innocent face. Her eyes showed her soul. As Victor looked into Alana’s eyes, he knew all the beauty of the universe could not even hope to compete with this woman. She would not let the world break her. Sure, Alana could cry, but she would never let anyone take her true self from her. She clung to it with passion, a passion that made her beautiful.

  “Let’s talk about what happened last night,” Victor said, finally.

  “What did you want to talk about?” Alana asked as she bit on her lower lip and her eyes turned glossy with tears. There was a vulnerable note in her voice, one that bothered him.

  “You’ve been through a traumatic experience,” Victor said. “You know, sweet angel, I appreciate your spark and zest; you’re a go-getter, a survivor. The intruder last night must have left you feeling vulnerable.”

  “I am okay now that it’s daylight,” Alana said, trying to hide that she needed real comfort, strong arms, and reassuring words.