Strigoi Redemption

by Hall, K R

  St. Andrew, the brother of St. Peter, was the first apostle called by Jesus but is known today as the patron saint of countries such as Romania, Russia, and Scotland. He went to Greece and, after converting the proconsul’s wife to Christianity, he was crucified by being fastened to an X-shaped cross by cords, where he died of thirst and starvation.

  This night, Victor would host a masquerade ball with food served in the great hall and the dancing in the ballroom. Just before midnight, they would head out toward the lake where, at midnight, a suitably impressive fireworks display would end the masquerade ball.

  “Hi, sweetheart. I have something for you,” Victor said.

  “What is it?”

  “Just a little something,” Victor said playfully, hiding a package behind his back.

  Bringing it from behind him, he presented it to Alana. She opened it and pulled out a stunning, hunter green dress. The gown had a plunging V-neck corset at the bust with embroidered detail. The side slit at the leg went up to her hip, allowing her to move and dance freely. A hint of vintage-inspired, glittering embroidery shined against a mesh illusion overlay for a dramatic effect that would turn heads all evening.

  “Victor, it’s beautiful. Thank you. Can I try it on now?”

  “Sure, it’s yours,” Victor said.

  “Wait right here,” Alana said, dashing off. She suddenly stopped and ran back to him. She grabbed his face, pulling him down for a kiss.

  “It’s time to get ready for the masquerade,” Victor said.

  “I'll get ready right now,” Alana said excitedly.

  ~ ~ ~

  Victor’s heart almost stopped beating when he caught his first glimpse of Alana at the top of the stairs. The gown seemed to shimmer as she moved, the color complimented her hair and eyes. Alana was radiant. He was quite proud to have her on his arm. She came down the stairs slowly.

  “Wow. You’re breath-taking, Alana,” Victor said.

  She stopped in front of Victor and twirled around, revealing her figure and swaying the dress.

  “Isn’t it fabulous?”

  “It’s not as beautiful as you are,” Victor said. “Come, the guests are arriving.”

  A sense of manliness and possessiveness passed over him and he felt ready to move Heaven and Earth for Alana. Alana’s left hand rose to her face for a moment, straitening her mask of vivid green, black, and gold leather over her eyes in a fire design. Her sapphire eyes shone behind the mask as she placed her delicate hand in his.

  In the great room, guests huddled together crowding the entrance doors, awaiting Victor and Alana. He straightened a little taller as admiring glances were sent their way as they entered the great room. He would have liked to linger and bask in the attention, but he knew Alana was hungry. He nodded without stopping until they were seated.

  “Thank you,” she said as Victor held out her chair.

  “You’re most welcome,” Victor said. “You look stunning.”

  All the men were dressed in their finery with crisp, white shirts and black tuxedos. The women were no less splendid. They wore their best gowns, necklaces with diamonds, sapphires, or rubies to match their earrings. The room was a riot of traditional decorations mixed with white and gold drapes on the walls. The decorations, the music, the overall cheerfulness of the people was all over the top.

  Extra tables were set up in the great hall, they groaned under the weight of the food. The chef and his staff had outdone themselves. There were platters of roast beef, venison, and salmon. Fragrant loaves of bread were in large baskets on every table with various cheeses and fruits.

  ~ ~ ~

  The swirl of gowns of dancing couples drew her attention to the ballroom with the orchestra. After the meal, they moved into the ballroom. On entering, the usual hum of voices, footsteps, and greetings deafened Alana and the light and glitter dazzled her still more.

  The ballroom was transformed into a carnival of colors and sparkling decorations. Gigantic masks of red, gold, and green formed a backdrop in a corner where a music ensemble gathered with their instruments. Swaths of sheer material in colors matching the masks draped from the center of the celling out to the walls, creating a canopy over the room— smaller masks and streams of ribbon were secured to spots on the walls while others decorated the tables and some dangled from the canopy. Windows two stories high graced one wall, the curtains puddling on the floor under them. A massive chandelier hung over their heads. The household staff had done a fantastic job.

  A girl in a dress with sleeves that had been fashionable in past years arranged a few centerpieces. She smiled at Victor as she walked by. Even with her mask, he recognized Alana’s sister, Millie.

  “I’ve been told you are the person in charge of the committee that planned this affair. You’ve done a magnificent job and the place is a wonderland of enchantment,” Victor complimented.

  “Thank you,” Millie said, blushing.

  Music softly played out of sight, setting the mood for a romantic dance. With a pleasant smile on his face, Victor swept Alana into his arms and around the floor. They continued to dance and spin. The lights were twinkling with every step as Victor spun in delicate circles, her hunter green dress hugging her form snugly. She loved dancing like this; the pressure of Victor’s warm hand on her back and the feeling of her small, agile feet gliding along the floor. Victor smiled brightly as their heels clicked over the ballroom floor. He watched as Alana’s hair spun out and bounced more with each move and beat. This was dancing, and art was coming to life.

  Alana rested her head on his chest and let him sway her body ’round and ’round again. The violins came in, followed by the piano, and finally the slow and sure beating of a drum. Alana knew she loved him. She wanted to marry him. The music slowed and she looked up into his soft brown eyes, shining with love. She raised herself onto her tiptoes and gently brushed her lips to his.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Millie is trying to get my attention,” Alana said. “I will be back soon.”

  “Take your time, sweetheart,” Victor said. “I will be waiting at our table.”

  He watched her move away from him. Her delicate little feet in silver heels clicking on the hardwood floors as she walked. He watched in appreciation of her beautiful curves and graceful movements. She was luscious.

  ~ ~ ~

  Alana discreetly searched for Victor. She saw him with a group of men laughing at something someone said. When he spotted her, his eyes were full of admiration and she felt aglow knowing that he thought her beautiful. As he made his way to her, Victor grabbed a couple of champagne glasses from a circling waiter and handed one to her. Alana took a delicate sip of the sparkling amber liquid in her glass.

  “Is everything okay?” Victor asked.

  “Millie wanted to double-check that the fireworks were to be set off near the lake,” Alana said. “I told her the lake is roped off so the guests will not get too close.”

  Thirty minutes remained before the last of the day’s celebrations. The band stopped playing and everyone headed out to find a seat on the chairs set up by the lake to watch the fireworks.

  Fireworks exploded above, vivid colors igniting the otherwise black sky. They could see the brilliant, soaring vermillion, golden and green flares crafted to resemble flowers bursting at high speed. They enjoyed the thrill of shuddering at the sudden bangs and smiled at the startled gasps of the “ooh” and “ahh.”

  Victor was less interested in the display than in watching Alana’s expressions, how they lit up her face just as she smiled, like a perfect photograph. Alana clasped Victor’s hand, her small fingers inside his large fingers. The air had a tang of gunpowder, a smell that took her back to every bonfire she went to as a child.

  The fireworks show ended in a fury of light and sound. When the show was over, the sudden silence was brief; applause rippled around the chilly lake and, en masse, the people turned to leave.

  ~ ~ ~

  The excitement of the evening still pumped thr
ough his veins. Victor was restless. He had already prowled around the inside and outside of his home several times. Heading back to his bedroom, he stopped to listen at Alana’s door. He could hear her deep breathing that indicated she was still sleeping. As he headed to his bedroom, Victor resigned himself to sleep and prayed that wisdom would come through his dreams. As sleep began to claim him finally, he heard a woman’s voice. When he opened his eyes, there waited the old fortuneteller.

  “Dear Victor, you have fared no better than I had hoped, it seems; however, you have the ability to make this better. You will need to go back in time, seek the right path, and follow your heritage to a place where forgiveness is sought. When unity is achieved, greatness will follow.”

  Redemption is on the way, his inner strigoi said.

  She saw what was to come. “One will be taken in sacrifice, and in that, be granted the strength and wisdom to save the other. You will try but can’t save both of you. You will meet the one to set you free. Trust in her. Do not lose faith. In time, you shall be set free. Two souls will come together to make a whole. Remember my words.”

  Victor began to say something, but she was no longer there. He had prayed for wisdom and received this glorious gift, but what did her advice mean? One thing Victor knew for sure was that he had to face what he had done, not just accept it. It would be difficult, and he had no way to make restitution. Victor’s eyes felt heavy and fell shut and he drifted off to sleep.

  Victor stretched and yawned and reached over and turned off his alarm clock. He got out of bed and went to shower. He caught a glance of himself in the mirror, causing him to stop and look at himself. He noticed he had dark circles under his tired eyes. It was evident to him that he obtained little or no sleep the previous night. He hoped after his shower that he would look more like his old self. He did not want to see the worry that would surely be on Alana’s face if she saw him as he was right now.

  ~ ~ ~

  Victor was disappointed when he arrived in the kitchen and noticed Alana was not there. He spotted a note from her when he reached for his coffee. After fixing the coffee the way he preferred, he grabbed her note and sat at the table.

  Alana had taken her easel and paints out into the garden to capture the sunrise. It was the perfect spot for watching the rising sun. Six hundred years of life and he couldn’t truly remember taking any time to truly watch the sunrise. That was his loss because it is spectacular to watch. The colors made it appear as if the sky was blushing like a girl from a brush with her lover. It’s all very romantic and beautiful, especially when the viewer is positioned in the right spot to witness the magic.

  Alana had stated in her note that she would meet him at his office for lunch. Noticing that he had plenty of time, Victor grabbed his coffee and headed to the garden.

  Victor did not find Alana in the garden, so he walked around, searching for her. He spied a weeping willow standing out as if beckoning him to seek refuge by hiding under its cascading branches. Drawn intensely in that direction, he found Alana sitting under the tree with her easel and her paints.

  He paused for a moment, soaking in the sight. He wished he had a camera to take a picture of Alana under the willow tree, painting the sunrise. Then he remembered his cell phone was in his pocket, he took it out and took a picture. He would love to get that image blown up and framed to sit on his desk at work.

  “Victor, is that you?” Alana asked, looking up at him as he approached.

  “Yes, my love,” Victor replied.

  “You look distressed. What’s wrong?”

  “I had a vision last night of the old fortuneteller woman. I fear I cannot do what must be done,” Victor said.

  “You are a man of immense strength and will. Have faith in yourself, I have faith in you.”

  “You do not understand. I trust you. I want us to be friends, lovers, and mates. I will always want you,” Victor said. “I am not worthy of you and your love. The woman said that I needed to look into the past to correct the wrongs that I have caused. I do not understand how I can make amends for something that has been already done in the past. Those people are all dead now.”

  Alana patted the ground beside her, inviting Victor to sit. She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. The stillness settled around him, calming him. Alana always seemed able to soothe him and his inner beast. She had the natural beauty and calming effect of Mother Earth herself. This closeness was nice— sweet and loving… and increasingly stimulating. He wanted to stay in this position, but he was all too aware of the sexual energy that swept over him between each of her breaths. She was so innocent; she had no idea what she did to him.

  “I am sure I will figure something out,” Victor said as he looked at his watch. “I must be heading into work. I look forward to seeing you at lunch.”

  Victor kissed Alana’s temple before he got up and headed off to work.

  ~ ~ ~

  As Victor walked back inside, Alana felt sorry for him. She wanted to hear about his life, but he was insistent upon not sharing the painful parts of it with her. It was evident that his pain ran deep. Her body longed to hold him. Her heart longed to reach him. It was the beauty of love.

  He sincerely moved her. He was like everyone, like her. Feeling confused and wounded, always seeking to feel loved. He was lucky he had his family to share the longevity of his existence. Soon, they would be mated, and she would share in his longevity.

  Chapter 13

  Christian wanted to see Victor suffer the way his family had. He wanted this man to pay, knowing each and every breath he took was one step closer to his last. He could almost see Victor writhing on the ground in pain as he slowly died. To finally be able to kill Victor thrilled Christian. Knowing that Victor was near caused a quickening of Christian’s step, in the blood pumping through his veins. With each step, anticipation grew. I will make him pay. Oh yes, tonight, he will pay.

  ~ ~ ~

  Alana walked to Victor’s downtown office to join him for lunch.

  Alana heard the crane moving around with a wrecking ball, preparing to swing it to the wall of the old building that was to be demolished today. She heard someone yelling but paid no attention, assuming the yelling had nothing to do with her.

  A man in a white hard hat came running out of the construction trailer. Alana noticed that he was running toward her. She tried to move out of the way, but the man tackled her to the ground.

  “What the heck,” Alana yelled as she landed on her bottom.

  There was a deafening, loud boom that caused them both to fall back to the ground. Alana looked around to where she had been standing and saw the wrecking ball was sitting right there. With a grinding of chains and hydraulic equipment, it tried to retract, but some of the chains had been damaged.

  Alana saw a rainbow of color on the head of someone dressed in black at the crane door. As the person started running, the rainbow-colored wig fell off their head. Several of the construction crew came running to help Alana.

  Someone called the police, who then called Victor as it was his property. When Victor rounded the corner, he saw Alana surrounded by a half dozen men in hard hats and two ambulance attendants were checking her over. It took everything in his power to stop the strigoi from taking over and wreaking havoc.

  Victor heard the crane operator saying that a woman in a rainbow wig had a gun pointed at his heart and demanded that he get out of the rig and give her the key.

  “As I turned to leave, she hit me over the head, probably with the butt of the gun,” the crane operator said while still holding the bag of ice from the EMT.

  “I saw the wrecking ball headed right for this lady. I just ran to get her safely away from danger,” said Philip Clasen.

  “We need to get security for the day as well as night,” Victor said.

  The other EMT checked Alana over and pronounced her various scrapes and bruises non-life threatening, much to Victor’s relief.

  “Victor, do you believe this h
ad anything to do with the other attempts on my life?” Alana asked.

  “Yes, Alana, I believe so,” replied Victor.

  ~ ~ ~

  Giving into slumber’s siege, his muscles began to feel a reprieve. As he slept, Victor dreamed so vibrantly of a child playing in the grass. Her hair was pulled back from her face so that she could explore the world around her. Her face was round, reminding him of Alana’s face. She had flakes of gold in her eyes that reminded him of his eyes when they reflected the sun. Her hair was as golden as the most beautiful adornments ever worn by royalty. He would have remained in the dream, watching the vision of her playing, discovering, and learning about the world around her, if he had not been interrupted by the sound of Grigore’s voice.

  “Dorin has some interesting scenarios that he has been waiting to show you. Are you too tired to go see him now?” Grigore asked.

  The thought of moving was tiring enough.

  “Really, I’m totally wiped out. Maybe he could come to me after lunch,” Victor said.

  “I should’ve thought of that— how inconsiderate of me. I’ll be back after lunch with Dorin and his theories.”

  “Thanks, Grigore. I need this sleep,” Victor said.

  No sooner had he drifted back to sleep, he was at that field of grass and flowers. The little girl could not have been more than five and full of life. Her eyes had an inner light that illuminated everything. He sat under a tree watching this child have the time of her life and he felt extraordinarily serene. She wandered around, looking intently at everything she encountered. Victor longed to remember a time when he was innocently awed by the world around him.

  He stayed in this magical place until, once again, he was awakened, only this time it was a kiss to the cheek. He smiled before opening his eyes to see Alana. Victor rose and moved to offer her a seat.