The delegation consisted of Lord Brunswick, an old vampire — I believe he was a vampire as his skin showed the same paleness and the same red marks under his eyes as the vampires in the Devil’s Lounge. He was accompanied by three trackers, all showing the same paleness. Their names were Jasper, Edward and Emmett. The Cullen brothers as I referred to them, either of them blessed with remarkable beauty.
“Who are the Cullen brothers?” Tatiana asked me one night when we were staring at the ceiling of her bedroom waiting for sleep to arrive. She had done a bit of magic and the ceiling gave way to an endless assemble of glittering stars. Her magical illusion was flawless, now and then I could even spot a shooting star, stardust trailing behind the falling star like sparklers in the night.
“Cullen as in Twilight, the books”, I paused. “Hello, they made movies out of them, too.” Explaining a joke usually kills it.
I propped up on one elbow. “Seriously, you must watch more TV. Twilight might have been the biggest thing happening over the last decade. My sister had a huge crush on the main character. It’s about vampires. A love story between the vampire Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, who happened to be human. I can’t believe you never heard about it.”
Her forehead crumpled in the moonlight filtering through the windows. “Sorry, no recollection. But, hey, if you want to date a vampire, there are four under our roof now.”
“No thanks, I don’t like the idea of acting as a walking blood bank.” I paused, unsure how to formulate my next question. “You said, four vamps. What about Victor?”
She chuckled. “Is that what you think he is? Being Count Dracula.”
“At least you know Dracula, there is still hope in your case.”
“Yeah, at least Dracula was real, the Cullens aren’t.”
“Was?”
“The Inquisition killed Count Dracu. Stab through the heart. Bastards, he was cute looking. What a pity!”
“So Victor is no vamp?”
“Half-vampire.”
“How can you be half vampire? Isn’t that like being half pregnant? Does it mean he’s vegetarian and lives from animal blood instead? I mean, that’s still gross, but the Cullens did it too. It’s like living on tofu. Or is he into cranberry juice?”
Tatiana shot up in bed. “Girl you’re nagging again. Get it straight. No cranberry juice, no Cullens. The Cullens are fiction. Sorry for breaking this to you. Half-vampire means vampire was intimate with a mortal. He needs blood occasionally, but not as much as a real vamp does. End of story.”
“What if the vamps are coming in our bedroom for a midnight snack?”
“Gosh, I hate Hollywood”, the frustration was visible in her face. “Vampires can live on animal blood. They don’t have to feed as often as proclaimed in movies. Human blood is the best of course. Luckily nowadays there are hospitals around and vamps usually end up as a doctor. Where else can you work nightshifts and get a decent supply of freshly pressed human blood?”
“I never go into a hospital again!” That’s a matter of fact.
“Maybe you change your mind if I tell you, Edward can’t take his eyes off you.”
“No thanks!” That’s gross, Anastasia agreed for once.
“That looked different during the last fight training”, Tatiana snapped. “He pinned you to the mat no less than six times and you were flirting with him as if there was no tomorrow.”
Yeah, because I wanted Dimitri to develop a hatred towards me. It hadn’t the intended effect. So I stopped. Dimitri was the type of person who would have let me marry this vamp as long as it made me happy. And he would keep his feelings locked up, the charade upright, just for me not to get any doubts.
A Grand Duchesses can’t marry a common soldier, he knows that.
—Shut up!
“Vampires are not my type”, I said finally.
“Suit yourself. Plenty to choose. How about the Chinese wind-dancers?”
There were four of them and their master, who was dressed like the emperor of an old Ming dynasty. And certainly he was as old as the last emperor of China. It didn’t help avert this impression, when his subjects called him Master Ming. His companions had witchcraft in their blood, they were trained in stealth. The perfect assassins. Wind-dancers were meant literally as I found out during one of their training sessions. They could walk among the winds, jumped incredible distances and made zero sound. They worked as a team or better said as if they were one. Victor claimed them to be their secret weapon. They could silence the guards before they could sound the alarm.
“No”, I said even more determined than before. “Those four are a package deal if you didn’t notice.”
“Four for the price of one. That isn’t too bad.”
“Didn’t you notice how they stare at each other’s chests?”
“Well, they didn’t notice me and I did my best. You’re not inclining they are… you know… drawn towards the other shore?”
I giggled. “I most certainly think they are.”
“Oh crap! That explains. Anyway, there is still the werewolf pack from Rumania.” Yeah, three boys at the high of their puberty in leather jackets, testosterone in overflow, who whistled behind my back whenever and wherever I turned up. Tatiana barely managed to keep them at bay. I only wished for Dimitri’s hand back on my hip, showing them I was taken. Well, that would somehow stuff up my self-proclaimed mission of rescuing him, would it?
The werewolves’ mentor looked more like the Godfather and ate his raw steak with his fingers, devouring it like a true wolf its prey. I overheard Alfred issuing a formal complaint about their table manners to Victor the other day. According to the stiff British butler, the pack was lowering the standard of the fine house. Well, he had something of Carson from Downton Abbey.
“They are creepy! Please don’t set me up with them. I’m warning you, Tat.”
“I wouldn’t go out with them either, werewolves in general are taboo for me. Did it once and the bloke wanted to bite me after dinner. He called me his desert. His name was Igor.” A shower was running down her spine, making her body shake. I had to smirk.
“Dimitri said, we need them”, I muttered. Mentioning his name out loud hurt more than I expected.
“They’re like Berserkers in a fight. Good, if things turn nasty. Anyway, you’re not truly into your boyfriend either, are you?”
“Who, Jake?”
“How many do you have?”
“No, I mean Jake is the only one.”
Tatiana turned around, so that we could look into each other’s eyes. “Even you deserve better, Izzy.”
***
The next evening we were all assembled in the dining room, a final dinner before the battle would start. Victor had pulled me aside earlier, insisting on me staying in the safe haven of Deerpark Manor. For Dimitri, I agreed, no argument. I believe we two had an informal covenant when it came to the boy who saved my life. Although, it didn’t feel right that everyone was risking their lives for my friends, while I was cowardly hiding in safety, many miles away from the front line.
With so many experts around, my contribution to this mission would have been more a hindrance than help anyway.
Victor raised out of his seat and toasted to his assembled army. “Gentlemen, Ladies, it’s a pleasure having you here. Tonight, we’ll turn the tide. We’ll free the Children of Apocalypse, free the commoners that had been held captive for extortion, we’ll expose the Consul as the mastermind of the Guild, expose his true plans and rid the earth of the Guild’s countenance, our arch enemy for such a long time.”
Lord Brunswick applauded loudly, went out of his seat as well and raised his wine goblet. “I couldn’t have chosen better words, my dear, old friend. It’s an honour being part of this mission. It truly resembles the beginning of a new era. Gentlemen, ladies…” he raised his goblet to me and Tatiana — I just hoped he’s not one of those mindreading vamps. “For centuries the Guild has managed to escape, but tonight is the time, where the enem
y has to show his true face once and for all…”
The bloke went on and on and on and I couldn’t help myself that his eyes were more focussed on me than anyone else. Same as with the Cullen brothers, especially sexy Edward.
You’re disgusting, Anastasia echoed her complaint in my mind. Certainly, there was sexiness in the boy, who’d made saving my life his job, too. But this train of thoughts was dangerous territory. I had a lump in my throat by the sheer idea of him going into this mission. Who knew how dangerous it was? And also for Tatiana. Don’t quote me, but I learned to like her. She’s the annoying elderly sister I never had.
Involuntarily, my hand reached out under the table to Dimitri’s and our fingers interlinked, sending up the familiar sparkle of fireworks. I paused and closed my eyes for a moment. Thanks, Anastasia. You’re an evil bitch.
—You wanted it, don’t deny it.
—Wanting and being allowed are totally different matters.
Every time I was stuffing up, I put it on her. It wasn’t happening that often, just now and then. It hurt nonetheless as I knew I had to withdraw my hand immediately. Unlocking my hand from his was like hammering a nail into my heart.
I quickly turned to Tatiana for distraction. “Do you believe he can read minds?”
“I hope he can read mine”, she answered with an annoyed smirk to the leader of the vampire delegation. “No, I don’t think so, he still rattles on. Guess I’ve to starve to death.”
Our stomachs made a grumbling sound. Dimitri leaned closer to me. “Could someone please stop him. Otherwise, we’re ending up as the Rumanians’ dinner.”
He was right. The wolves were licking their lips, saliva running as a thin film down the edges of their mouths. More concerning was their glances, which rested on me and Tat. Alright, that was enough. I leaned into him. “Your right arm around my shoulder, now!” After one week of ignoring him, I almost felt his feelings for me had changed. He paused, confused, then gave me a smirk and took his arm around me. Disappointment rushed over the faces of the wolf pack. But it didn’t last long, instead their stare changed entirely onto Tatiana, which made her roll her eyes in answer. “Thanks, you two!” she muttered under her breath. “At the victory party I’ll sit in the middle and you can enjoy the rotting emperor. Ming’s old ears didn’t hear her, same as his farts that escaped him occasionally, but Tat was right. His odour of two weeks dead fish carried over into my nose.
“Do you want to kill me?” I asked her.
A chuckle escaped her. “I thought you can’t read minds?”
***
After dinner everyone got ready and just before midnight we all assembled in the entrance hall in front of the big staircase. The Ming fraction was dressed entirely in black, samurai swords strapped in a cross to their backs. They truly looked like Ninjas, even if they were Chinese and not Japanese.
The Rumanians were in full battle gear, leather armour and an arsenal of maces, axes and swords; each of them carried no less than six weapons. The vampires had some dark chest armour, like the nights in old movies, just not so shiny, hence, dark knights. They looked no less stunning. Edward appeared like a god in his rich engraved plate chest armour, but so looked Dimitri. He and Tatiana were in black leather armour too. My knight in shiny armour. Tatiana managed to look sexy again. I’m not sure how she did this. She certainly would look great even in a potato bag.
“Please take care of you, both of you”, I said, my voice awfully full of tears and concern. I wished I could give Dimitri something which he could take with him into battle, something what would remind him of me. But again, that’s what girlfriends do. We couldn’t be anything like it. A sigh came off my lips.
“Don’t swoon, princess”, Dimitri giggled. “We’ll be back with your friends in no time. I promise!”
“I mean it Dimitri, Tatiana… take care of you. Don’t take unnecessary risks… just come home in one piece.”
Tatiana shrugged her shoulders. “Dimitri, let’s go before she breaks out in tears, faints and I have to carry her upstairs to my room for a rest.”
Her comment forced a smile onto my lips.
“You’ll be safe here”, Dimitri said casually, but I glanced right through his facade. He worried about me.
Luckily Victor spared me further embarrassment. “The time has come, gentlemen, ladies”, he announced from the top of the staircase. He too was dressed entirely in armour. There was nothing anymore that reminded me of the loving old grandfather, the crazy professor, he’d resembled not even an hour ago. Now he was a fearsome warrior. The other mentors — all in gear as well — joined him on top of the stairs, like the four musketeers, they were standing on the landing, putting their hands on top of each other’s and promising one for all and all for one. Or the tracker equivalent, something in Latin which I didn’t understand.
Soon later, one by one disappeared through the portal that would bring them to the Other Place and from there to St. Petersburg. I watched until the last went through and Dimitri closed the portal behind him. They were gone.
“Nothing to fear, Miss Elisabeth”, Alfred said with a brought smile. “I watched them go for years and they always come back home. I’m sure it won’t be any different this time. But maybe I can serve you tea in the drawing room to calm your nerves?”
“Thank you, tea sounds just fine, Alfred”, I brought out, my stare still fixed with longing onto the spot where the portal had closed.
Chapter XVII
An Audience with the Headmaster
A roar of thunder jerked me out of my sleep. The drawing room was pitch-black, except for the light of the full moon filtering through the window-front. There was a perpetual thump against the glass as if someone snipped his fingernail against it any now and then. Rain, I noticed.
A flash lit up the room. Outside it was darkest night, but not silent. The wind was moaning, pushing the raindrops against the windows and rummaging along the edges of the windowsill.
I must have fallen asleep. Maybe Alfred had mixed some tasteless sleeping potion into my tea. Soon after the first sip, I had felt dog-tired and the crackling of the slow burning wood in the grate and the silent tick-tack of the old grandfather clock in the corner behind me had lulled me into a short slumber. At least I thought it was short. I turned to the clock at the moment another lightning brightened the room. “Only after 1am. I’ve gone for less than an hour. The storm must have caused a blackout. Happens sometimes in California, why not in Slovakia, too? Then it drew on me. Deerpark Manor has no electricity. Just petroleum lamps and candles, lots of candles and the room was brightly lit when I fell asleep. The fireplace had gone out as well. Why would Alfred switch out all the light?
There was something else wrong, or better something missing. For a second time I turned to the grandfather clock. It had stopped ticking.
Fear was settling in. Hopefully I wasn’t soul walking again. Another giant flash accompanied by an ear-splintering thunder echoed through the house. I shot out of the sofa. Let’s find Alfred.
Usually, during soul walking, I didn’t feel so tired. Half asleep, I opened the door to the foyer of the manor home. Also here, all lights were off. That didn’t happen once since I’d arrived here. On the other hand, poor Alfred must have been fully exhausted after this week. Likely he didn’t care about keeping up the status quo and returned straight to bed. One butler for sixteen people was a bit understaffed. He wasn’t the youngest anymore and right now having a nap at the base of the staircase?
“Alfred!” My voice was all panic and I darted off towards the lifeless body. I kneeled at his side and at the same moment I reached out for his pulse. A few agonising long seconds passed, but then I could make out a faint, but steady pounding under his skin. His side was bruised and he had a cut on his left temple. By the sight of the blood that’d wetted not only his forehead, but also formed a small puddle on the tiles I had to take a deep breath. Edward Cullen and me? That would have never worked out. I can’t stand the look of bloo
d. Between fighting the dizziness and the urge to throw up I tried to remember what they taught me about head wounds in the first aid course.
“Don’t bother, Miss Parker”, a voice sounded from the landing up the stairs. My head jerked up in surprise. There was a shadow, the shape of a man in a trench coat and bowler hat, his right hand resting on the silver hilt of a cane. Another flash illuminated the room and I took a deep breath when recognition hit me. “Consul Wayland!”
“Well, I see you remember me.”
“But you can’t be here. I mean, how come you’re here? What about the wards around the house.” I took a few deliberate steps backwards. Consul Wayland descended the stairs, obviously not in a hurry.
He was in his fifties and not the sporty type. If I hurry, I could be out of the manor and hide in the grounds. He’ll never catch up with me.
I spun around for the door, but stopped in my tracks, when the door opened and in came two men in the same outfit as the Consul, blocking my way.
I changed direction and hurried back to the drawing room, but before I even made it there, the door slammed shut. In panic, I banged on the handle, except the door didn’t open.
“You can’t escape, Miss Parker.” The Consul had made it to the bottom of the stairs.
Don’t panic, Izzy. Dimitri will rescue you. All you have to buy him is time. They might be already on their way back.
“Let me guess, you’re a magician?” Boldness was the only weapon left. “Don’t answer that, it’s kind of obvious. The door gave you away. Not to mention the light show. Anyway, do you think you could get away with that Consul? Kidnapping all those children! You’re dealing with entities you can hardly control, entities which are far beyond—“
“Stop nattering, my dear.” Why the hell does everyone claims I’m nattering?
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