The Man Behind the Vampire (The Silver Series)

by Samantha Bates

  "I would have thought that when you live hundreds of years you must build a few enemies."

  Leaning his head against the chair he gave a weary sigh "we all have enemies Leila; I try to stay out of the way of mine. Is there a reason for the questions Leila, are you really okay, has someone said something to upset you?"

  As she laughed it was light and relaxed, a sound he wasn’t sure he had ever heard from her mouth, "of course not, you are without doubt a great man and someone I like having as a friend."

  He wasn’t sure how she would take the news of Carlos; he had spoken to Cane on his way over here. As Leila's therapist he was hoping Cane could tell him the right way of saying this, Canes advice, 'just get it over with.'

  "Listen Leila, I need to tell you something. Um Carlos is dead, he was murdered."

  For a minute she just sat there "well at least I don’t have to be scared of him coming to get me, let me know who to thank please Darius" he wasn’t sure how to reply so said nothing.

  That went better than expected, he wasn’t sure if she would be upset, happy, angry or sad. She was indifferent, but he had delivered enough of these messages to know that when the shock hit she would need someone.

  As he was walking away he felt uncomfortable, his back tingled and he knew someone was watching him again. Turning back to Leila, he wasn’t sure where the feeling was coming from, but he trusted his instincts.

  "Come on Leila let's get you inside, it's getting late and cold."

  After settling Leila in her room he went searching for Theo, he found him in the kitchen getting a sandwich, "hey Darius, how's Leila?"

  "Good I think, listen have you seen anyone hanging around lately?" Shaking his head, Theo was now watching him intently, never one to take security lightly.

  "The last couple of times I have been here, I have felt like I am being watched."

  "Could it be the million cameras Imogen has set up around the place?" he thought about this before ruling it out, it was more than that.

  "I will double the guards and send some more patrols out. Once I have eaten I will do a run round and make sure everything is in place.

  "Don’t worry about it Theo, I need to go see a vampire."

  "You sure we can…." But Darius had already left.

  Starting the car he headed into the city, time to go and see what was happening in the vampire world. Darius knew where he was going; the house was set on the outskirts of the city on huge grounds. Parking about 5 miles from the house he went the rest of the way on foot.

  A mile from the house he stood still and cloaked himself, his abilities allowing him to stay hidden from others. They also gave him the ability to look like he was flying, he wasn’t of course, but to those that could see him the illusion was good.

  If anyone else came into this place without an invite, they would be risking immediate death, for Darius it was called 'making a point'. You didn’t sneak into the home of the head of the vampires, unless you were stupid or Darius.

  Once in the vicinity of the house, he jumped up to a balcony on the second floor, he had to get in a different way each time. Vlad would always set some trap to prevent access through the same door more than once.

  As he went to open his toolkit from his belt he stopped and listened, no nothing, using the metal he quickly opened the lock. Entering the dark bedroom he could see the light from under the door, moving stealthily he moved through the room, but as he placed his hand on the door he stopped.

  "Good evening Vlad" he could feel the vampires presence behind him, impressed that he had not been able to further penetrate the house,

  "Well, well my dear friend Darius, one day you may try knocking at the door, you know you are always welcome here." Really, this was a surprise. Darius wasn’t too sure about that.

  "Ah but I like to keep you guessing, what would be the fun in the front door?"

  Darius turned to face him; Vlad was dressed as always in a business suit, his blonde hair now reaching his nape, was secured in a loose tie.

  "But of course, is there a reason for your visit Darius, have you come to your senses and decided to join my Elite?"

  When he arrived in New York he had approached Vald, as the head of the vampires for the city it was a sign of respect. For the average vampire it wasn’t necessary but if you were older and stronger, and did not make your intentions known it could be seen as a threat not to. He had known cases where the head vampire had taken out potential threats, just to ensure their continued leadership. Darius was no threat to Vlad so he had met with him and made sure he knew this. However he was also no fool, he had made it clear, that should Vlad attempt to cause him problems he would retaliate.

  Other than Vlad no-one in the city knew his exact age, a person with Vlads abilities would automatically know he was old, very old. Therefore Vlad knew he was also strong enough to be an adversary. From the beginning he had found Vlad to be a fair and ruthless leader when he needed to be. He had immediately offered Darius a place in his team of Elite Warriors, having been there before in a different city with a different leader, Darius declined and Vlad accepted this.

  "Sorry, no change on that score but I do need your skills, something feels wrong. I keep feeling like someone is watching me, but I can't quite get a handle on who or where. Are you aware of any new vampires in the city, this one must be old to conceal themselves from me so well."

  Vlad was looking pensive, never one to broadcast his thoughts, Darius waited.

  "Firstly I think you need to trust in your instincts, I will ask my team if they have heard of anything. However, if there is someone watching you, and they are as old as you say then this is a concern for me also."

  "I have been here years, what is the likelihood of anyone finding me?" Darius wasn’t really talking to Vlad, but more to himself.

  "Are Ben and the others aware of this?" He could hear the question in Vlads voice.

  "No I don’t want to draw anyone into this, if it is about me and no risk to them."

  "Yet here you are!"

  He went outside and surveyed the scenery, the only way to see in here was by air. The darkness looked back at him, the stars twinkled in mockery, what was he missing?

  "I am. I figure if anyone had heard of any new vamps in the city it would be you. And if not it may be a problem for both of us."

  "Indeed, let me have Ice and Shaun trail you." This was an interesting idea, Ice and Shaun ran Vlads army of vampires and the Elite Warriors. Shaun was an affable Irish man, Ice was as his name implied cold and distant but damn smart. If he didn’t want you to know something you didn’t, simple. Even though Ice was only 500 years old, Darius would think twice before challenging him and that was saying something.

  "I am not sure I like the idea of that, but honestly if it will help go for it."

  His cell rang, seeing Mary's number he answered with "hey gorgeous I am……….."

  After listening to her he responded "where are you? I am on my way, do not leave the house. Hang up and in 20 seconds a guy called Vlad is going to ring you, stay on the phone with him until I get there." He handed the phone to Vlad who took his arm, as Ice came rushing in the room,

  "Give Ice the address and he can meet us there" quickly after giving the address to Ice, Darius took his first trip via teleportation.

  Chapter 21

  Mary stood at the window waiting for Darius; her hands were shaking as she held the cell waiting for this Vlad to call. A sound like a pop made her jump; she spun around looking for something to protect herself with, nothing. And then Darius materialised in her lounge room with a strange tall man. As Darius raced towards her, the other man raced down her stairs and she assumed into the alleyway.

  "Let me look at you Mary, are you injured, oh god please tell me you are okay" as she nodded, and burst into tears all she felt was the relief that he was there with her. When he wrapped his arms around her, she felt safe and warm.

  Now the other man that arrived with Darius, he made he
r nervous. There was something raw about him, terrifyingly raw. When he came back into her apartment his presence made her stiffen.

  "Hey baby it's okay, this is Vlad a sort of friend of mine."

  Even though this Vlad smiled in a way she thought was meant to appease her, it didn’t work.

  "Darius a word please" again the smile, but there was an edge to it,

  "Mary knows about me Vlad, talk in front of her." She saw the surprise in the man's face, surprise and a little warmth towards her. Why she thought that she didn’t know, his facial expressions remained almost unchangeable.

  "Can I ask your friend what happened first?" Mary tentatively recounted the details, praising the man that helped her before he continued.

  "The man that helped you was a vampire, one I do not know but one who is very powerful, he had left only moments before we arrived. Darius if I was to guess I would say he was about your age."

  Mary watched as Darius lifted his head, she could see the anxiety etched on his face "Darius what is it?"

  "Mary I am sorry to do this to you, but I need you to pack your bags" she could almost feel his thoughts darting about, he was still close to her, his arms still round her, but his grip tightened slightly.

  "What? Why?"

  "I am so sorry, but I need you to come with me to Silvers, now, please" he was truly worried, so she went into her bedroom and packed a bag.

  How had anyone from his past found him? He had been so careful, over 200 years he had managed to stay in the same place, and now he had finally found someone he had to leave, he had to leave Mary. Lucky was right he shouldn’t have started this, now he would have to hurt her.

  "I need to get to Silvers quick" he could see the questions on Vlads face, he wasn’t going to explain, he needed a couple of days to make plans and then he would have to go.

  "Ice is downstairs he has a motorbike, Darius let me help you" he had to admit that as far as head vamps went Vlad was one of the best.

  "Thanks for the offer and if I was ever going to work with a head vamp, it would be you. This really changes nothing; I will not be in debt to anyone and will not bring anyone into a problem that has been mine for centuries now."

  As Mary came out of her room with a bag that was almost as big as she was, he smiled, she was lovely. Locking the house up after Vlad popped out again, he met Ice and headed out on the motorbike.

  By the time they got back to his house, Mary's arms were literally glued round his waist, moving them and then her, he saw that her face was a mixture of terror and exhilaration, he couldn’t help but laugh.

  "Don’t tell me that you have never been on a motorbike Mary." She shook her head, and he took her arm to get her inside. She looked pale and freezing, turning on the lights and the fire to warm her up she smiled. "I didn’t say it last time I was here, but I like it."

  "I like you here" he handed her a glass of whiskey, to warm her and settle her "how are you feeling?"

  He watched as she knocked the drink back in one, gasped and then made a loaded statement "I will feel better when I know what is going on."

  "I don’t know where to start really. Look I need to make some phone calls and check a few places for information. Can I do that and then we can talk?" she nodded, he gave her a tour around the house, last time she missed the tour and Darius wanted her to get her bearings.

  Then they settled on the overlarge sofa together, her with the book of his life, although she was soon going to get the shortened version, and Darius at the other end with his laptop rested on her ankles.

  He started firing off emails, then checking new reports across the various countries. He would find him; he would work out where he had been, and how he had found him here in New York.

  Chapter 22

  It was good having Philippe back; he was no longer the miserable, arrogant man that had left. Instead he was helpful around the farm; he was gentle with Emily and Charmaine. There was still a little animosity towards maman but she made it clear to all that it was her problem to manage.

  With all the sheep penned for the night we sat outside Claude's with a tankard of ale, just being brothers again. Laughing about our boyhood antics, in fact we somehow ended up wrestling. The sun was setting when we decided to see who could climb the highest branch in the old Oak tree. When Philippe fell, I laughed so hard I soon followed him; in fact it was only Emily scolding us that prompted us to pull ourselves together.

  Our fun was short lived, two days later I found old Claude in bed dead. Emily had been worried when he hadn’t come down for breakfast. As I called the priest to perform the last rites, Emily was grief stricken. I was grief stricken, over the last few years he had been more of a father to me than my own had ever been.

  It was maman and Philippe that held us together, Claude had no family to make the arrangements so they fell to me. I wasn’t sure what was to happen to the farm, in fact I didn’t know who owned the farm. For a week I waited for the owner to come, Emily and I had put together a proposal to give to the new owners. So when that lone horse man arrived a week later I washed and shaved before going out to greet him.

  I was slightly concerned when the man asked for me and Emily by name, for I had never seen him. He handed me a letter from Claude, I still have this letter, somewhat old and torn but preserved as well as an 800 year old letter can be.

  Reading the contents of the letter was exhilarating as well as shocking; old Claude had petitioned the king to request I be given title of the lands. King Phillip IV and amazingly he had agreed, although I suspect the rent was increased. The letter was thanking me for turning an old barely functioning farm into something quite profitable. And then he handed the deeds over to me. Me! A prostitute's son now a land owner.

  Emily was so happy, by now she was 2 months pregnant and the fact that we now had security for our baby over joyed us both. Within weeks she, maman and Charmaine were sorting out Claudes things. We were reluctant to part with many of his belongings so we stored these in the roof space, I still wonder if they are there, I doubt it.

  It didn’t take long but the women made the house lovely and homely. We offered Philippe the barn and maman and Charmaine moved in with us. They were truly happy times, the relationship between Philippe and I strengthened. We were closer than we had ever been; we set more vegetables, added pigs to the farm. We then started on a plan to increase out wealth and standing in the town.

  Pregnancy suited Emily, as I worried she was doing too much, she worried I was stressing too much. When she was about 5 months pregnant I remember being curled up in bed, my arm wrapped around a snoring Emily when I first felt our baby kick. I lay there for several minutes waiting for it to happen again; when it did I shook Emily awake to tell her, only for us to wait nearly an hour and the baby to not move again that night.

  Maman and Charmaine had started taking the clothes to the market inside the castle walls; they were being traded for food, supplies and goods for the baby. Philippe was becoming accustomed to not being accepted inside the castle, the inhabitants at the castle didn’t take kindly to the sons of whores, but he was determined to make a good name for himself.

  It was not long after this that Philippe started acting strangely; looking back I recall that he didn’t want anyone in the barn. When he wasn’t working he was in there. At nights when we would usually eat together he disappeared for hours. Maman and Emily were convinced that he had found himself a nice girl, I wasn’t so sure; Philippe wasn’t the type to keep his exploits quiet. However as he was a grown man I didn’t worry too much about him. Maybe I should have asked questions, would it have made any difference to what came next, I don’t know.

  Mary sat up; Darius was frantically typing away, the frown on his face deepening. Stretching her legs, she made herself coffee; looking in the fridge she took out a bottle of blood. Her stomach clenched a little at the thick dark red substance. Pouring it into the glass she took a sniff, unsurprisingly it smelled like blood, would it hurt to alter the smell a
little?

  Taking her drink and the one for Darius she handed it to him as she went to sit back down

  "Hey, thanks. If you had said I would have made them" he pulled her close and kissed her long a deep, "I feel like I am neglecting you, which I am. I just want to take you upstairs and bury myself in you" just the idea was enough to get her hot and bothered.

  "When you have finished that I will make sure you bury yourself in me. Bury yourself many times before you close those eyes to sleep."

  He took a sip from the glass and she watched a sour look touch his facial features