by Alves, Carl
Dimitri rose to his feet. He hurled his stake at the vourdelak like a spear. She leaned back in time for it to miss its mark and land uselessly to the ground.
Like a tiger, she pounced on Dimitri. She snarled and smashed his face, causing his eyes to roll to the back of his head.
Desperate to save his father, Vasilly left his hiding spot. If he didn’t do something, his father would die. Without thinking, he picked up his stake and ran. He began to cry as she was about to plunge her fangs into his father’s neck.
With both hands, he rammed the stake into the vourdelak’s back below her shoulder blades. She released a head-splitting roar and writhed on the ground. Vasilly jumped over her body and went to his father, but Dimitri pushed him aside. He crawled over and leaned on top of the spear, further driving it into the vourdelak’s back. Once more she let out a shrill scream.
Dimitri fell back, and Vasilly hugged his father. His father had always been so big and strong, but now he seemed like a feeble old man. They both watched the vourdelak moan and convulse, not taking their eyes off her until she was no longer moving.
After many minutes had passed, with his father in and out of consciousness, Vasilly mustered enough courage to approach her. He held onto the stake that stuck out of her back and used it to turn her over. Her vacant eyes indicated she was dead.
Hours later, Vasilly and his father exited the cave. They were the only survivors. Before they left, Vasilly removed the stake from the vourdelak and brought it home.
“Holy shit,” The Goat muttered. “That’s fucking amazing. I can’t believe you actually killed that vampire.”
Vladimir took a deep drag from his cigarette. He had been wide-eyed during the entire story.
“You never heard this before?” The Goat asked Vladimir.
“This is first time. I never believe in vourdelak, but now…”
“Believe me. They’re as fucking real as you or me. I went face to face with one and he almost killed me.”
“You speak of vampire killer in news?” Vladimir asked.
“That’s the one.” The Goat turned to Ksenya. “Translate this for me.” The Goat recapped his encounter with Alexei and everything that had transpired since then.
Vasilly appeared alert, with no sign of his normal drunken stupor.
“My grandfather has something for you.”
They followed Vasilly down a set of creaky old steps. The basement smelled of urine and stagnant water. The Goat tried to minimize his breathing to avoid the stench.
Vasilly took out a key and opened a wooden cage. He reached inside for a brass case. He opened it and reverently lifted a brittle piece of wood.
Ksenya translated, “He like you to have this.”
The Goat looked in awe first at Vasilly and then at the piece of wood. “Is this the stake he used to kill the vampire?”
“Yes.”
The Goat took the stake, and although it had no magical power, nobody could have convinced him otherwise.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Alexei sat across from Nora Brooks. She was intoxicated on wine. He was intoxicated by the scent of her blood. This was their second outing this week. Previously, he declined, wanting to keep a low profile. This time he readily accepted her offer. Magnus was driving him out of his skull.
Alexei wore a dashing tuxedo. Men wearing suits and women in evening gowns surrounded them. Alexei had become a popular figure in the city’s social circles. Friends frequently visited their table. He politely spoke to them, but could hardly keep his eyes off Nora.
Nora had reserved a room at the hotel. Her husband was home, so they could not go to her place.
“Hey, why don’t we make ourselves scarce,” Nora suggested.
A wide grin spread across his face as he followed her to her hotel room. They spent the next hour there, indulging in every pleasure of the flesh. As they got dressed, Nora started the conversation Alexei had been hoping to avoid.
“I want you to do it. I’m ready.”
Alexei put on his pants. “Ready for what?”
“You know what. I want you to make me one of you.”
“Nora, you don’t know what you speak of. Do you understand the finality of it?”
Nora turned away from him, her arms folded beneath her chest. “I’m sick and tired of this pathetic life. I can’t take my fake marriage, fake friends, and parties with people I can’t stand. Can’t you see, Alexei. You’re the only one who matters to me, and I know you can’t hold out much longer. You want this as much as I do.”
“You would be missed too much.”
Nora sighed as she put on her diamond necklace. “I don’t want to get old and fade away. In a few years, my career might be over. Then what?” She grabbed Alexei by the waist and ran her fingers across his chest.
Alexei leaned his head back and closed his eyes. It would be so easy for him to do as Nora suggested. Right here and now. His temptation was so great, it became tangible. “Now is not a good time. I’m a marked man.”
Nora released him, the hurt evident on her face. “Why do you reject me? Don’t you love me?”
“Oh Nora, there’s nothing more I would rather do than pierce your lovely neck and drink your sweet blood. But now is not the time.”
“When will the time be right?” she asked, pouting.
“Soon, but not now.”
They returned to the hotel bar where the party was still raging. He separated from Nora and worked the floor.
He did not stay long. He grew tired of the same conversations. Before leaving, he said goodbye to Nora. She would not let him leave until he agreed to see her again that weekend. He wondered what lies she told her husband, the trial attorney. He didn’t like lawyers. They were the bottom feeders, ruining what people worked for with their greed.
As he walked to his vintage Mercedes convertible, his thoughts were clouded with doubt. Nora’s offer plagued his mind. He had been thinking about taking her from the moment they first met. At first he had held back as a matter of self-discipline. He wanted to prove to himself that he could control his urges. He had told the others in the brood that he would use discretion. If he tried to feed on her, she would probably wind up dead. Converting her to a creature of the night would be one big headache. If she wound up missing, they would know he was the perpetrator, and that would set off another brawl with Magnus. He still ached from their last fight. If Gabriella had not intervened, he would have defeated the sanctimonious bastard.
Nora was a diva, a vixen. She was one of the beautiful people, and they were always the tastiest. When it was all over with the police and FBI, he would give Nora what she wanted.
Then, he would settle the score with Magnus and see who was superior. He feared no one. He had lived over a thousand years, and would live a thousand more.
The cool breeze coming from the Delaware River invigorated him. He looked at his watch. It was too late to feed. Perhaps tomorrow. He could select a random victim, but that wasn’t his style. He liked to get to know them.
Alexei rode home with the top down on his convertible, his long, flowing hair fluttering in the wind. He blasted the radio. He had an eclectic taste in music varying from opera to hard rock. Tonight he was in the mood for rock.
When he arrived in Wyncotte, he exited the car with the distinct feeling someone was watching him. He abruptly turned, but didn’t see anybody. He looked up and down the block and frowned. Perhaps Magnus or another member of the brood was lurking, keeping a tab on him. He scowled. They had no right to follow him. He told them he would toe the line and he meant it. Gritting his teeth, Alexei walked to the mansion. If someone was keeping tabs on him, he was going to find out who it was.
Tony Scrambolgni sat at the table counting the money. He looked up at his associate Charlie Senerchia. “You’re a thousand short. What the fuck’s going on here?”
Senerchia shrugged. “We took a beating on the Taylor fight. When he got knocked out, we got our clocks cleaned.”
Tony grabbed him by the shirt collar. “What do l look like, a fucking chump? What kind of bullshit excuse is that?”
Senerchia’s underling, Mike Reed, sank back into his seat.
“Boss, what am I supposed to do when I take a loss like that?” Senerchia asked.
Tony went nose to nose with him. “Am I supposed to feel sorry for you? What kind of shit are you trying to pull?”
“I’m not trying to pull nothing.” Senerchia tried to back away, but Tony kept him close. “It’s like I said, I had a tough week. I’ll pull it together next week.”
Tony dragged him to his side of the table by his mustache, and Senerchia screamed. “You’re damn right you’re going to pull it together. You know why? Because I gotta pay my bosses, and they don’t accept anything less than paying them everything I owe. So how am I gonna pay up if pieces of shit like you don’t give me my money? I don’t want to hear you had a bad week. That don’t mean shit to me. You’re going to pay me in full every week. You understand me?” Tony pulled him up and down by his mustache, so it looked like he was nodding.
“Yeah, boss,” Senerchia mumbled. His partner’s face was completely white.
“So this is what’s going to happen. Look at me, punk.” Tony let go long enough for Senerchia to look at him. “Next week you’re going to give me two G’s extra.”
Senerchia groaned.
“And you’re never gonna come up short again. You got it?”
“I got it, boss.”
When the waitress returned to their table with the check, Tony passed it off to Charlie Senerchia, who passed it off to Mike Reed.
“Sometimes you gotta learn the hard way.” Tony pulled out a comb and straightened his hair. “Do you have the leather jackets? The answer better be yes.”
Mike nodded. “We got ‘em. They’re in my car.”
“Will wonders never cease. Good thing, ‘cause I’m meeting buyers tomorrow.”
They walked to Mike’s car. Mike popped open his trunk. Inside were biker, soft leather, and suede jackets, dozens in all. Tony inspected them and nodded in approval.
“I’ll pull up with my car, and you guys can load it up,” Tony said.
Senerchia’s mouth hung open as if he had seen a ghost.
“What’s your fucking problem now?” Tony asked.
“Boss, turn around slowly,” Senerchia replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
Not far away was the tall, blond, unmistakable figure of Alexei, the Vampire Killer.
“Is that him?” Senerchia asked.
Tony didn’t say a word. He only nodded.
“What do we do now?” Senerchia’s voice wavered.
Mike pulled out his gun.
Tony motioned for him to put away the gun.
Mike Reed frowned. “Aren’t we going to take out that SOB?”
In a low voice, Tony said, “We’re gonna do no such thing. We’re gonna follow him to his little nest.”
Senerchia smiled and then laughed. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. We’ll find out where he lives. That’s what we’ll do.”
Tony grabbed Senerchia’s arm. “Keep your voice down. Get a hold of yourself. If you don’t got the stones to do this job, then stay behind.”
“I can do this.”
“All right.” Tony turned to Reed. “You ever tail someone?”
Reed nodded.
“Good. That’s what we’re gonna do. Keep a distance and be inconspicuous.”
“Sure thing.” Reed said.
They got in the car and trailed Alexei as he walked to his Mercedes convertible. Reed double-parked as Alexei started his car. They waited until he started driving.
They rode briefly before taking an exit and entering an expensive Main Line neighborhood. Reed followed at a good distance, but close enough that they would not lose him. Tony thought there would be problems since Reed was green.
Alexei’s Mercedes slowed. He appeared to be looking for a parking spot.
“Pull into a spot and kill the lights,” Tony said.
There were no open spots, so Reed pulled in front of a driveway.
Tony smiled as Alexei exited the car. “Let’s see where you’re going, big boy.” Alexei walked fifteen feet. “You guys stay put.”
“You got it, boss,” Senerchia said.
When Alexei turned his back, Tony exited. He hid behind a tree in front of a large house. He held his breath as Alexei stopped and abruptly turned. For a second, he thought Alexei spotted him. What would he do if Alexei spotted him? He was impervious to bullets and had superhuman strength and agility. Fortunately, Alexei resumed walking.
When he walked a bit further, Tony took a chance and followed him. The block was long, but sparsely filled with houses. Each was spacious, lavishly decorated, and surrounded by a large plot of land. At the end of the block, Alexei entered a house.
Tony returned to the car.
Senerchia bit his bottom lip. “What are we going to do now, boss?”
“We’re going to wait. This son of a bitch is a vampire, right?”
Senerchia and Reed nodded.
“He’s only supposed to be out at night. That means we’re going to wait ‘til dawn to see if he comes out.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Enzo loaded four bullets into the chamber of his .357 Magnum and aimed at the target. He was no marksmen. He had shot and killed before, but always at close range.
He and Andrews were testing prototype bullets developed at Quantico. When Enzo asked Andrews how he explained the need for these bullets, the FBI agent shrugged and said his contact owed him a huge favor and was doing it with no questions asked. Enzo had not pursued the matter any further. It was not his business.
Since it wouldn’t be prudent to bring a reputed mobster to an agency shooting range, Enzo picked one. He had a guy who owned a shooting range in Upper Darby.
Enzo squeezed the trigger, aiming for the chest. Despite missing the mark by nearly a foot, he pumped his fist. He removed his ear covers and pulled up the target.
Andrews took a closer look. “Your aim stinks.”
“The important thing is that the bullet shot.” He picked up the casing. “If a stake works, then this should too.”
“We don’t know for sure.”
Enzo reached into his jacket and frowned when he found no cigarettes.
Andrews grinned. “You’re better off. If Alexei doesn’t kill you, those things will.”
Enzo shrugged. “We have to take a leap of faith, just like when you finally believed Alexei’s a vampire. I feel good about this. Like I told Sophie, vampires have to be vulnerable, otherwise they’d be the dominant species.”
“Speaking of Sophie, how did a classy gal like that ever get involved with your organization? No offense.”
Enzo rolled his eyes. “You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you?”
“Not at all. You’re very intelligent. That’s why I haven’t arrested you yet. It was child’s play nailing your predecessors.”
“That sounds like a backhanded compliment. To answer your question, Sophie realized the corporate world wasn’t meant for her. Busting your nuts and kissing ass, and where does it get you? Nowhere. You got to make your own rules.”
“Fair enough. Let me try a couple shots.”
Enzo handed him the gun. Andrews shot with considerably more accuracy, hitting the target with three headshots.
Andrews closed a bullet in his hand. “I’m going to get my contacts at Quantico to make more so I can give them to my agents.”
“I’d like to get as many of these bullets as possible. I own a gun shop through one of my subsidiary companies. If you can get me the prototype, I can get them made and supplied to my guys.”
After more target practice, they went to Enzo’s Escalade in the back lot. He opened the trunk and pulled out a large briefcase. Inside were dozens of wooden stakes. “Take these. I have more at my office. I don’t know what we’ll do with them. It’s
impractical to walk around the city carrying stakes.”
Andrews took one out of the case. “I wish I could tell you this is a nice weapon, but I have no way of knowing.”
“It’s sharp and made out of wood,” Enzo said. “It should do the trick.”
Enzo closed his trunk, and they walked to Andrews' car.
“I’m going to meet Agents Morrow and Sheridan back at my office. I’ll let you know what’s been happening at the house.”
“Good. Two of my guys are on night shift. That’s when we’ll get more info.”
Andrews stepped into his car. They did not shake hands. It was mutually understood that this was a temporary relationship borne out of necessity.
When Enzo arrived at his office, Tony Scrambolgni and Pat Adesso were waiting with anxious looks on their faces.
Enzo poured a cup of coffee. He had barely slept last night. “Come inside.”
The Wop and The Goat followed him. Enzo sat behind his desk.
“Before you guys tell me what’s on your mind, I want to thank you, Tony. You found the vampire hiding place before the Feds did. I know we’re in this together, but I enjoy beating them at their job. Good work.”
Tony nodded. “I just hope we can nail these bastards.”
Since Tony and his two cohorts tailed Alexei back to the brood’s mansion in Wynwood two nights ago, they had set up around the clock surveillance. Thus far, they had seen six presumed vampires come and leave the house. Through the public records office, Andrews discovered that an M.G. Alfredson had purchased the house less than a year ago. He found no further information on this individual.
“So tell me what’s happening,” Enzo said.
“Seeds and Big Mac followed three of them coming out of the house last night. One was a short woman with red hair. Another was a tall guy, brown hair with a muscular build. The third was an incredibly hot babe with long blond hair. They went to the Ritz Theater on Walnut Street, then the Art Museum, then they lost them.”
Enzo frowned. “Lost them?”
Tony shrugged. “What are you going to do? They’re fucking vampires. I gave ‘em heat for it. The good news is we got pictures.” Tony handed Enzo an envelope.