The Parchment (The Memory of Blood)

by Sylvie Brisset

  "Possible. But for now it's my only theory. Can you try to contact Mystie now that the jammer is not interfering with communication anymore?

  "I’ve been trying for a long time. In fact, I’ve been trying regularly since Casper told me the news."

  "And?"

  "And nothing."

  "Do you know at least if she is alive?"

  "No."

  Silvo postponed the discussion for a later time. He would again have to be patient to worm information out of Delatour, and he was exhausted in advance. So why not wait until he wasn’t alone to do so? The vampire was silent. Silvo did not want to disrupt him, if he was trying a new communication with Mystie. Unless he treated his wounds or he just made his report to his superiors. Silvo would have to do it too, but with a tremendous amount of paperwork.

  The shop was closed but the light leaked out in the floor, proof that Clothilde waited for them. Silvo used his key to enter. The shop was dark, even sinister, without its usual occupants. All was silent. Silvo had the feeling of entering a cave. They went up the steps to the apartment.

  The main room that served as living room and kitchen was a riot of bright colors. Walls were covered with slats of yellow one dashing, embellished with wooden carvings in the shape of bright red roses. Shelves, cluttered with candle jars and books, were scattered all around the room. The floor was covered with a large carpet. The small banquette disappeared under a pile of cushions in shimmering colors. Opposite, the wood stove dispensed a soft heat, accompanied by a light smoke and the smell of burned wood. In the middle of the room stood a large wooden table, surrounded by benches and wicker chairs.

  Silvo loved to tease Clothilde about this flamboyant decoration, but now he understood that when we witnessed too much darkness, some light, even artificial, could restore some hope in the human qualities.

  As soon as they passed the door, Clothilde rushed towards them. Silvo was about to receive her in his arms, but she hugged Delatour.

  "Philippe, how are you? We were so worried about you!"

  The vampire was at least as taken aback as Silvo. Unaccustomed to such a manifestation of anxiety, the vampire stood with his arms dangling at his sides, not knowing what to say or do.

  "But I see that your clothes are stained. I'll see if I find something in your size. At least, a shirt. But you first have a cup of tea. Both of you. You sit. Give me one minute."

  Neither of the men dared to upset her. They exchanged an embarrassed glance and sat without a word, waiting for her to join them. Their anxieties were all for Mystie, and they made a tacit agreement to let Clothilde decide when they should talk about it. Silvo motioned to the vampire that he still had dried blood on his face. Delatour understood the message and made a quick wash in the kitchen sink. Meanwhile, Casper entered the spirit of Silvo as usual.

  In one corner, Mephisto, Mystie’s cat, had taken refuge in an old tattered armchair. As soon as Delatour sat down it came to settle down on his knees. For some strange reason, it seemed to adore the vampire and rushed on his lap whenever the opportunity arose.

  Clothilde gave a distended T-shirt to Delatour that he put on silently under her approving glance. She served each a cup of tea and left the stained shirt in the sink.

  When all were seated, an awkward silence settled down that Clothilde decided to break.

  "I listen to you gentlemen. What can you tell me about my granddaughter? This is not the first time she is in danger, and I have confidence in her abilities. So let's move forward. I'm listening. Philippe, why not be the first? I already know the information available to Silvo and Casper."

  The vampire nodded, sorry for not having good news. "I tried to contact her. But in vain."

  "What can block communication according to you?"

  "Difficult to say. We can add to the list that I would have done yesterday, scrambling technology."

  "And what else is in this list?" Casper asked.

  "Some metals block the passage of waves."

  "But that would mean she is in a room full of metal. Possible, but unlikely."

  "A safe, perhaps," Casper suggested.

  "We can also assume that she blocks my attempts. But I have doubts."

  "Why?” Casper asked. "She is strong in this game, our little Mystie."

  "Yes. But in this case I would feel resistance. But here I feel nothing at all."

  "What else then?" Clothilde asked.

  "She may be too far away geographically. With distance, waves disperse."

  "They should not be far away. If we assume, of course, that it is you they really wanted," Silvo observed.

  "That leaves the jamming technology. But it was more the stuff of this American." Casper commented.

  No one dared mention a more definitive reason, even though everyone knew it.

  "She did not take an astral trip to talk to me," Clothilde said. "But that's understandable. With no one to monitor her mortal coil, it would be very risky."

  "The men who kidnapped you, did they have information about the other group in search of the parchment?" Silvo asked.

  "No. And they did not care, since they had the parchment. And considering their security system, they were not at risk."

  All were silent, thinking of any possible solution.

  "It may be unrelated to the abduction of Mystie," Delatour began before taking a break.

  "Oh for heaven's sake Dracul! We will not laugh if you make a mistake with your language. Spit it out!"

  "The day the men who kidnapped me arrived in France."

  "Yes..."

  "The same day, an unknown vampire was visiting Paris."

  "How do you know?" Casper asked. "You make an annual census?"

  Seeing that Delatour shrugged silently, Silvo answered for him. "Casper, new vampires are born on a regular basis, others disappear, even if population movements are relatively rare. They have longevity but, if I can use this expression, they also have a high rate of infant mortality. Most of the young vampires do not gain quickly enough the necessary power to control and maintain their body and they exhaust their energy trying to make it. Few new vampires means they are quickly known. And here we are talking about a newcomer, geographically. Someone of passage."

  "So, in addition you have an immigration service? Need a visa? A green card?" Casper asked.

  "As vampires are territorial, I would not be surprised if they are required to report their presence. Is that correct?" Silvo asked Delatour, seeking his agreement.

  Delatour nodded. "Indeed. When vampires settled for more than twenty-four hours, they are supposed to appear to the Council's area, which gives them an authorization of stay."

  "And if they are illegal immigrants? Or if they stay longer? What do you do? You take them back to the border?"

  Again, Delatour did not answer.

  "There is perhaps no relationship with the kidnapping," Delatour said.

  "It is often that you have visitors like this?" Silvo asked.

  "No. It is rather rare. That is why I mention it. But I could be wrong."

  "Experience has taught me to be wary of coincidences," Silvo said. "What do you know about this newcomer?"

  "Not much actually. But he mentioned that he knew me. I was not reachable today, but..."

  "He has not shown up before, either," Silvo finished.

  "Correct."

  "What else do you know?"

  "Nothing more. But I'll find out. Wait!"

  He remained silent and nothing showed through on his face. But Silvo recognized this fuzzy look. He was in telepathic communication.

  "You think they have voice mail when they are in status off-line?" Casper asked Silvo.

  Minutes later, Delatour took back his cup of tea, and drank it in sips.

  "So?" Casper asked. "You learnt what, your highness?"

  "Nothing more."

  Nobody believed this laconic answer. Silvo and Clothilde exchanged glances. She shook her head. If the vampire had decided to say nothing, nothi
ng on earth could compel him to do so. Silvo winced, but agreed to let go.

  "Let’s assume that this vampire is linked to the disappearance of Mystie. We'll see where it takes us," Silvo proposed.

  "It would explain why she has not done an astral travel. Not in the presence of a vampire," Clothilde said.

  "But it is perhaps not a coincidence if it is her that he kidnapped," Delatour said.

  "Clearly? What do you mean exactly?" Clothilde asked.

  "The fact that she is able to destroy souls thanks to her mental strength is an open secret among the vampires. One can probably extend this knowledge to other spirits."

  "And as normally only a master spirit, demon or angel is capable of it," Casper continued.

  "He may seek to learn more about her, or use her." Clothilde finished.

  "But he mentioned your name," Silvo reminded Delatour.

  "We thought they wanted to use Mystie to bend Delatour. Maybe in fact they want to use Delatour to bend Mystie. Whoa, I feel a raging migraine on approach! Mayday Mayday!" Casper moaned.

  "No, no. We are on the wrong track," Silvo said. "We are getting away from the parchment. A vampire would not care about the story therein. It mentions part of Delatour’s life. That he has lived too long to be human, assuming that this is the same man. What’s the big deal? Nothing new for another vampire."

  "This is perhaps an old buddy of yours, who found you by making a link between your biography and the article on the Internet. A love affair. What do you think, your highness?"

  "We can not say that Delatour hiding since he appeared precisely on a website," Silvo opposed. "It would be surprising that this visitor shows himself at this precise moment.

  "I do not know! Maybe he does not like new technologies. Or he wants to blackmail Dracul by threatening to say that he is a vamp."

  "Coming from another vampire?"

  "Okay so what do we do? I do not know what to suggest," Casper announced.

  "I am afraid we have no choice," Clothilde said. "We wait until this vampire or Mystie shows up."

  "Yes. But in the meantime, I'll put you under protection. If this is the ancestry of Mystie that attracted them, then you are in the frontline. I am going to call someone from my team who will stay with you. And it is not debatable," Silvo added, seeing that Clothilde was about to protest. "And you, Delatour, it would be nice if you could keep us informed when you have news. By the way, why didn't you alert us, at least Mystie, when you were abducted?"

  "I could not take any risks. At the slightest suspicious reaction from her, they would have shot her down."

  "Why didn't you use telepathy?"

  "I did what seemed to me to be the best."

  "Like locking me in a vacuum?" Casper asked.

  "I do not see why you get to be the only one to make jokes. And I really wanted to do an experiment. I could not foresee such a sequence of events."

  "And what was the sequence of events?" Silvo asked. "What happened after that phone call? I have a blank between the time you left the laboratory and when we found you in the villa."

  The vampire shrugged as if it had not the slightest importance now.

  "The little you have discovered may perhaps help us save Mystie," Silvo argued.

  "And without the squad you would be still attached, buttocks in your chair, head covered with electrodes!" Casper added grumpily.

  "I would have got the upper hand without difficulty and you know it," Delatour said.

  "Yeah! But if you did not make it earlier, it was for good reason. Then, even if it is not shiny to admit for your little person, and even you do not know how to tell stories, make an effort dude!"

  Delatour winced. He laughed at what could say this mental deficiency, and Silvo could think of what he wanted. But Clothilde had not said a word. She stared at him in a questioning look, with the eyes of a mother searching for her baby.

  "Okay. They made me get in in their car at the exit of the laboratory. By scanning their minds, I realized that their boss held the parchment and they had no idea of where he was. They gave me drugs. I used my resources to prevent the toxin from spreading and fought it."

  "Toxin? You mean the anesthetic?"

  "Yes. When we arrived at the villa, they tied me up and connected me to their devices. Their leader was still not there. So I wanted to convince them to make him come. But he refused to move, and their devices highlighted my brain activity. Seeing that this was what they wanted, I kept a low profile. You intervened. End of story."

  "Well, you cannot say that you got lost in the details!" Casper commented.

  "Why not communicating telepathically?"

  "The jammer prevented me from doing it."

  "Yes, but before? In the car for example."

  "I had not discovered anything yet. I had nothing to communicate. I just knew that these men were guilty of murders to obtain the parchment. But we knew that already, didn't we?" Seeing that Silvo was perplexed, he added, "You do not trust me, do you Silvo?"

  It was not an issue. A simple fact.

  "Frankly? No!"

  "You are right," the vampire answered simply." Can you give me a lift to the laboratory? I left my car there."

  "Of course. Casper go, you come with me."

  Silvo kissed Clothilde while muttering he would immediately call someone to keep her company.

  "Do not worry. The store and the apartment are protected by a charm I made. No spirit can enter without my permission.

  "So do not go out. I beg you. Not alone."

  CHAPTER - 24 -

  When a man had brutally opened her car door at a crossroads, Mystie did not react immediately. She was not expecting it, lost in Delatour’s past, which she had just discovered with Silvo. He had grabbed her and literally thrown her into the van while the driver was already driving away. She had heard a concert of horns probably because her car was blocking the passage, then nothing. The van merged into the circulation and continued its course.

  "What do you want?"

  "To begin with, that you keep silent!" the man answered abruptly. "And no stupidity. Otherwise Delatour will suffer consequences."

  Mystie distinguished his face with difficulty. He wore a hooded jogging suit and his head was covered. As if he had followed her questioning, he pulled down his head. She had never seen him before. He was young, little more than thirty, tanned skin as someone who lives in the open air, black eyes, a shaved head. But he had in his facial expression something sadistic, which frightened Mystie. She could not see the driver, only a mass of black hair.

  Were they Delatour’s captors? Possible! The man spoke with an undeniably English accent. And since they knew of Delatour’s abduction, which happened only a few hours ago...

  Mystie tried again to contact Delatour. In vain. Then she saw that the hooded man had a smile, or rather a grimace that distorted his face. As if he understood what she was trying to do! She forced her vision to see his soul. A vampire!

  Turning to the driver, she noticed that he was one too.

  And given their thinness, there was a good chance that they were blood vampires. Moreover, the one who was watching her did not seem to breathe.

  Damn it! How lucky she was! She hurried to build defenses in her mind so that they could not read it. But she did not know if it was not already too late. She built in thought a wall broad, thick, and impenetrable. She should be more circumspect in the future. If she had one.

  He walked over her and she moved back against the back door of the vehicle, afraid.

  "I will not do anything to you, for now. Just have a look in your pockets."

  She remained stiff while he turned her pockets and threw her cell phone on the seat. The car stopped in a parking lot.

  "We change vehicles."

  Mystie weighed the possibility of using the opportunity to save herself, or scream to get attention. Once again, the vampire seemed to follow her thoughts.

  "Do not forget! Delatour!"

  She bowed h
er head in submission. For now.

  Silvo would learn quickly that she had not returned to the store. He would find her car and understand what had happened. She would be a nice sheep. It was still the best way to learn more and perhaps to rescue Delatour. These vampires were not aware of it, but she had enough power to destroy their souls. And to do it, she did not need any weapons. So better to let them believe that she was a simple frightened human being.

  The vampire seemed satisfied with her response.

  This time they were in a small car, and progressed slowly to the speed of the heavy traffic in central Paris. At a traffic light, Mystie saw a policeman and tried to discreetly attract his attention. She did not want him to intervene, especially knowing the nature of the occupants of the vehicle. But if Silvo could benefit from the description of the car, perhaps he could reconstruct her itinerary. Unfortunately the policeman paid no attention to her grimaces and the car started up again. She was turning back in her seat when she saw, in her peripheral vision, a clenched fist near her head. Before she could react, she fell into the land of Morpheus.

  ***

  She regained consciousness lying on the ground. The concrete floor was cold and stank of oil. She took care not to move, in case someone would see her wake.

  "Ah, the Sleeping Beauty awakes at last!" a male voice said sarcastically.

  Seeing no reason to play comedy, Mystie sat up. She made her jaw go side to side, rubbing her cheek. The bastard had a nasty right. Her chin was sensitive but nothing was broken.

  "Yes, he sometimes has a few problems controlling his enthusiasm," the voice said.

  Following the sound, she turned and found a new vampire sitting in a chair three feet from her. He wore a suit of good quality with elegance, a signet ring shone on his right hand. He had his elbows on the back of the chair. The car driver stood silent beside him. The one who had hit her was not visible and Mystie was relieved.

  "Who are you? And what do you want?"

  "My name is Charles. And here is Diego," he added, pointing to the vampire with him.

  "Where is Delatour?"

  "Every question at the appropriate time."