Shades of Red

by T L Christianson

  “This isn’t exactly a major airport, is it?” I said, hesitating after he flicked on the light switch.

  “Go ahead,” he told me. “I’ll go after you.”

  Back in the plane, Alexei motioned to me, “Sit with me.” He’d laid out a thick blanket on the floor and sat against the netting wall of packages.

  “What is all this stuff,” I asked.

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Drugs, contraband. Who knows? Sasha’s a shady guy. I was lucky enough to get us to Russia.”

  “Russia? How am I going to get down to Italy without a passport?”

  “What identification do you have?”

  “Nothing. I have nothing.”

  “Hmmm...” He shrugged, “So? Use your mind control.”

  I pursed my lips. “Mind control? Alexei,” I fell to my knees and leaned toward him. “I haven’t drunk blood in two days. Before that, I went for several days without. I have a fear of blood and rarely drink live. How will I be able to mind control anyone?”

  Raising his eyebrows and shaking his head he whistled. “Indoor cat.” Then, “It’s fine. I’ll get you blood,” he told me with a wink.

  Narrowing my eyes, I said, “I don’t know if you’re cocky because you’re that good or just overconfident.”

  He patted the space next to him. “I’m just that good. Now sit, let’s have a lie-down. At least you’re warmer than this freezing plane.”

  Sitting next to my Russian, he put his arm around me, and I closed my eyes.

  Slowly, I began to doze off as we headed into a rising sun.

  Chapter Twenty

  The landing gear woke me up, and I peeked through the cockpit window at another small, out of the way airfield. Stretching and yawning, I popped a peppermint into my mouth.

  After we landed, I nudged Alexei, “Hey, wake up. I think we’re here.”

  He blinked and looked around, frowning. “We’re outside of St. Petersburg. Good thing, because we need to get a passport for you in town.”

  I sagged in relief. “Please tell me that means we’ll be flying to Rome?”

  “Maybe.”

  Groaning, I gathered up my things as Sasha taxied the plane to an old airplane hangar.

  Once inside, the massive doors began to close behind the plane. Three guys stood by an office, one with a machine gun.

  “Oh Geez,” I gasped as I stepped down from the plane. The armed men just watched us as Alexei opened a door and led me outside.

  Following him down the road, I half pulled, half tugged my broken suitcase along behind me.

  “How far will we have to walk?” I asked.

  “We’re going to my country house where I leave a car while I’m gone.”

  “Out of curiosity, why are you flying with smugglers? Why aren’t you spending any of your bounty from catching the Butcher?”

  His mouth curved up on the side. “For you…and” he patted his bag sheepishly.

  My eyebrows shot up. “What did you bring?”

  He shrugged, “Just a little something for my father.”

  Zipping up my coat, I finally turned my case and carried it by the side handle.

  “Why would you do that for him?”

  “My dad’s on year 8 of a 10-year ban to the U.S. Besides, I owe him.”

  “Why even put yourself in this situation; you’ve got the money now, why not leave?”

  His steely gaze met my own. “I will after I make sure my bounty won’t be in dispute. Besides, someone has to watch over you.”

  It was my turn to raise my brows, “I don’t need a babysitter. Besides, The GC can’t take the money back. We fulfilled a binding, legal agreement. It doesn’t matter if Amy’s innocent or guilty. The contract would be impossible to get out of.”

  He raised one shoulder. “I don’t know. Maybe. They’re criminals. All moroi become criminals if they live long enough.”

  I snorted and shook my head. “I wish you didn’t have such a jaded view of us.”

  He took my hand in his, the cold air had turned his nose and cheeks red.

  “Look what you’re doing? You’re running away from your Clan, from every moroi that you know. Why? Because they’ve done something criminal,” he said.

  I licked my lips and blinked back tears which froze on my eyelashes. I couldn’t meet his eyes. “I’m still not sure what Aurev even knows. I’m not sure if he’s even involved.”

  The Russian stopped, put his hands on my shoulders and shook me gently until I met his gaze. “I overheard part of your conversation with Sarah. I may not be completely moroi, but I could hear what you said and how you said it. You were afraid. You’re running away because you’re scared…”

  I pulled away and continued to walk, thankful for my running shoes on the icy roadway. “I don’t know for certain. I’m trying to have faith and trust him.”

  He spat back at me, “You trust Aurev?”

  Turning to meet his gaze I spoke sharply, “Yes.” My breath came out in fast pants, “I want to.” My eyes overflowed, and I quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks.

  Stopping, Alexei pulled me against him, kissing the top of my head. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted you to understand the kind of monsters you’re dealing with.”

  Lifting my chin, I met his gaze. When his warm mouth came down on mine, I took comfort in his gentle kiss.

  Pulling away, I asked, “Why do you always kiss me when I cry?”

  His arms circled me. “Because I can’t bear to see you upset. And, you’re done with Aurev. After we talk to Dr. Seals, we both have enough money to go wherever we want. I was thinking of going to the south of France, what do you think?”

  The thought of things being over with Aurev almost brought me to my knees.

  I smiled cautiously. “Let’s go, you’re going to catch your death in this cold.”

  Once we’d picked up Alexei’s car from a cabin he called his Dacha, he drove us into town. Sitting in the corner of a restaurant he ordered fried eggs, sausages, and sliced vegetables. Alexei downed his entire meal before I’d made a dent in mine. After eating about half, I sighed and set down my fork and knife.

  “Can I have the rest?” He asked, then picked up my plate, and set it on top of his.

  “Who are we meeting?”

  “The passport guy,” he told me between bites.

  “Where did this passport come from?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. I don’t want to know. I ask him for it, he brings it.”

  Just then, a younger man wearing Adidas clothing took one of the empty chairs at our table and started to speak to us. Alexei answered and motioned to him. The man set an envelope on the table. Alexei examined the contents and placed it into the breast pocket on the inside of his coat. Nodding, he shook the Adidas kid’s hand, delivering the payment.

  “Will it work? Where’s it from?” I asked the men.

  The Adidas wearing kid stood and took off without another word.

  “What was that? Can I see it?”

  My Russian dropped some bills to the table and stood. “Come on, let’s get to the airport.”

  “How much was it?”

  After I was hustled away from the building and back in the car, Alexei said, “It’s my treat, here.” He handed me the passport.

  “This looks real,” I told him, examining my face in the picture.

  “That’s because it is real.”

  “Well, where did it come from? This is stolen. Oh my gosh, where’s the real Delyth Hughes?”

  “Where’d you get my photo?” I asked.

  He laughed, “From your law firm’s website.”

  Backing out of the parallel parking spot, he shot out into St. Petersburg morning traffic. “It’s a gift. Take it or leave it, but I’m going to Rome, care to join me?”

  Begrudgingly, I pocketed the passport.

  “Also, either hide or leave your other documents in case we get searched.”

  “Get…searched?
”

  He nodded.

  “Well, at least let me buy our tickets…first class.” I raised an eyebrow. “Sarah gave me her credit card, I’ll pay her back.”

  “No. I want nothing traced back to Chronos.”

  Shaking my head, I said, “It’s too late for that. I’m sure Aurev will figure out I’d be headed to Italy after pulling me off a plane going there.”

  Alexei pounded the steering wheel. “He pulled you off a plane to Italy? What?” He continued to curse in Russian.

  “Look. After sleeping, I realize that I probably shouldn’t have run away from New York like I did. Aurev is a good man. I’m sure there’s some reasonable explanation.”

  Alexei’s Russian rant stopped, and tense silence stood between us. “You’re in love with him? How long have you been with him? Since he turned you? Why are you teasing me?”

  “No,” I told him. “I’m not teasing you. We haven’t been a couple.”

  “What do you want from me?” He spat out.

  I glanced out the window, my eyes stung, “That’s the problem, Alexei. I just don’t know. I love being with you, but I have a bond with Aurev…”

  “This is shit. Once we’re done in Italy, we’re done. I’m no one’s backup plan.”

  I looked over at him, resigned. “You’re not my backup plan. If you remember, you’re the one who first turned me down in Holland.” I stared him down until he looked back at me.

  He sniffed and shook his head. “You say you have a bond with him. Fuck, Hazel.”

  “Alexei, it’s not so easy to throw away decades of friendship. I’m trying to be honest with you.”

  Alexei was giving me the silent treatment, so I ordered our plane tickets online. Even inside the airport, he kept quiet. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

  “I’m going,” he spat out.

  Finally, as we sat there waiting for the plane to board, he said, “I overreacted. It’s just…Aurev is…” He blew out a breath. “He’s like a movie star or the Pope. I’d never really thought of him as a real person until we were in The Hague and Dalis, the GC lawyer, warned me away from you.”

  “Dalis? What a nerd.” I laughed and took my Russian’s hand. “Aurev is just a regular person like anyone else.”

  “Have you and he ever gotten together?”

  Our gazes locked, “Do you really want to know?”

  His jaw twitched, “No. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is how you and I feel.”

  He may have felt better, but I didn’t. Confusion swirled in my gut. I’d loved Aurev…for forever. But maybe he hadn’t really felt the same.

  Then there was beautiful, amazing Alexei. Was he my backup plan? He didn’t deserve that, and the thought that it might be true cut me to the quick.

  The plane ride was short and comfortable. We arrived late afternoon, hopped into a cab and went directly to my usual hotel there in Rome.

  Dialing the number for Dr. Seals, I waited as the European ring tone sounded.

  “Pronto…” She answered.

  “Ciao, mi chiamo Hazel Richards. May we come by your lab and speak to you today?”

  “Yes, I remember you. Well, I’m just leaving, you can come now if you’re nearby. You know where my office is?”

  “Yes, we’re only a few minutes away.”

  Her building was located in a nondescript old storefront. Beige plastered walls made up the façade and surrounding buildings.

  After knocking on the door, Dr. Seals greeted us and ushered us through a small reception area toward the back.

  “Hello, nice to see you again.” She told me, then turning to the Russian, she introduced herself, “I’m Dr. Mary Seals.”

  “Alexei Vasiliev,” He explained and they shook hands.

  Smiling cautiously, she motioned us to her office.

  Once we were settled, she said, “I must admit, Aurev’s assistant, Ms. Smith, usually contacts me. What is it I can do for you today?” She tilted her head, “You’re on business for Chronos, no?”

  Alexei’s eyes looked cold as the sky in winter. “We wanted to talk to you about OVC and your research on cas-12 gene editing.”

  Her eyes glittered like wet coffee beans. “You aren’t here on Chronos business, are you?”

  “I need to know about this paper and your involvement with the OVC virus.” I pulled a printed copy of her Cas-12 micro-editor paper from my bag and placed it on her desk.

  She flipped a few pages, perusing the document. Tapping her fingers on it, she shook her head, “I know nothing of this.”

  Lie.

  She pursed her lips, “I’m sorry, but you must have me mistaken for someone else.”

  “You’re not Dr. Mary Seals?”

  She shook her head, “I am…but…”

  “This paper attributed to you was published in the Journal of Moroi Medicine.” I tilted my head at her, “Look, I know you created the virus. I just want some answers. Who paid you to do it?”

  Smiling uneasily, she furrowed her brow. “I work for Chronos.”

  True.

  “You do? Because I’ve never seen your name on any documents.”

  “I..eh…Ms. Richards. There’s some kind of misunderstanding here. I’m going to insist you leave, now.”

  True.

  Ushering us out of her office, we found the door locked in our faces.

  “What the hell was that?” I asked Alexei.

  “She’s lying; she’s just not talking. I was complacent. I should’ve been more careful with her.”

  Stunned, I leaned against the building. There hadn’t been time to change, and I felt grubby in my jeans, and clothing that smelled of airplanes and airports.

  “She works for Chronos? Do you think she lied about that?” He asked me.

  Sucking in a breath, “No, she wasn’t lying about that. She was, however, lying about the paper.”

  “You should play poker, you’d clean up.” His smile warmed me a bit after the meeting. “What do you want to do?”

  “I think we need to come back tonight and break in,” I told an astonished Alexei.

  “Okay, you feel guilty about a stolen passport but are okay with breaking in. Okay. Tonight. But for now, let’s go get a drink.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  We picked up pizzas and canned beer at a small restaurant on the way back to the hotel. I ate mine like a taco, keeping it folded in half and the filling inside. However good the food was, it wasn’t what my body craved. My fangs ached inside my gums, and my need for blood grew exponentially as the night passed. At home, I drank a small amount of blood daily, but since I’d been away, regular blood became hard to find, and I’d been going several days at a time without.

  Making an excuse to Alexei, I walked back up to where I’d seen a butcher shop. Turning the corner, I found the small shop closed.

  Thirsty and on edge, I made my way back to the hotel.

  Eyeing people on the street, I tried to choose a potential victim. However, I couldn’t bring myself to drink from any of them. Fear, repugnance, and guilt lingered in my mind, keeping me from quenching my thirst.

  Back in my own room, I turned the shower on and lingered in the hot spray. My face pale, my pupils slightly misshapen, I toweled off and dressed in a t-shirt and borrowed yoga pants from Sarah.

  Hyperawareness was a side effect of lack of blood. The noise around me, the footsteps above, laughter from a side room began to whip me into an agitated state.

  When a loud knock came from my door, I nearly jumped out of my skin. My fangs slid down slightly, but I kept them in check when Alexei peered strangely into my darkened room.

  Holding up a bottle of wine, he said, “Hey, look what I found for only two Euros, ending with a new curse word in Russian. Swiftly entering my room, he closed and locked the door. Examining my face, he gasped, “When was the last time you ate? Why aren’t you drinking from people? What’s wrong?”

  I turned away and strode to the window, look
ing out into the cobbled street.

  “I told you. I can’t. I haven’t drunk live in decades.” Then turning toward him again, I said, “Remember? I’m an inside cat. Apparently, I can’t handle being without a ready blood supply.”

  Shaking his head, he pulled off his down jacket and t-shirt.

  “Don’t expect me to ever do this again, but as you are, you’re in no shape to go anywhere like this.” He sat on the bed, “Come here, you can drink from me. This one time.”

  The blood in his veins sang to me, and my fangs ran all the way out.

  I licked my lips.

  Hovering over him, his foreign, freshly showered skin drew me in, and before I could resist, my mouth was at his neck, my fangs buried deep in his skin.

  After a couple draws of his blood, I began to pull back out of restraint, but Alexei held my head to his neck.

  “No, drink some more, you’re not going to hurt me. I know you need it.” He commanded, one arm around my back and another firm on my neck.

  He fell back onto my bed, and my body covered his. His excitement pressed into my thigh, stoking the rising warmth and desire within me. When I withdrew and licked the small wound in his neck, Alexei pulled me toward him, his mouth found mine, and I luxuriated in his kiss.

  But somewhere in the back of my blood-induced intoxication, I knew this felt wrong. Yet, my hands ran down Alexei’s muscular back and to his round bum that I took hold of.

  When he leaned away, I gazed into his silver eyes, both of us still dazed from my bite. He tugged at my shirt and pulled it free before unbuttoning his jeans and kicking them away. I pulled off my borrowed pants and wrapped my legs around Alexei, kissing his chest and sighing as he ground against me.

  I tugged at his boxers and he at my bra, shedding clothing in a mad frenzy. But as I felt him nudge my core, my conscience came alive and I sobered immediately.

  Scrambling like a crab away from him, I held a hand out. “Hold on, hold on. Give me a second.”

  I sat there, crouched naked like a frightened school girl, as he watched me. This beautiful man knelt on the bed, his hand on his very large…