Hidden Carmina

by Adri Sinclair

  Dimitri looks at me in astonishment. “Why would you ask that of me? I cannot make such a promise to you, Carmen.” Moodily, he paces along the glass window.

  “There are only three creatures on this whole earth who can call off those two,” He points to Alina and Darya, “Unless they, or you, die.”

  “Then let them do it. I am not afraid of dying, Dimitri. I don’t want immortality. I want to be sure it will not happen. Dimitri, if the gods could take pity on Ambrogio and save his Selene… can’t you do that for me? Save me.” I gamble on the theatrics Dimitri engages in and it pays off.

  “But I am no god, Carmen!” He shouts at me, melodramatically. It is hard to stop the curling of my lips. I know I have won this round.

  “No, but you are my champion, Dimitri!” I call back to him with as much dramatic passion as I can pull from the little energy I have left.

  “You are my champion! It will be my last gift to you, and yours to me.”

  I am surprised at how easy this was. Dimitri agrees to, in full, destroy my whole body by using the two women who have taken care of me all this time. For the first time, I learn about the blood servant’s nature and history.

  They have been used over centuries by originals to control, protect and annihilate not exclusively humans but other covens too. They are loyal to the blood contracts and contractors, but once they are tied with a charge, there is no manner in which to deter their minds from the tasks assigned to them. They are the ultimate assassins and protectors.

  Dimitri explains to me about the almost impossibility to get them to break a blood-sealed contract. If they are set to kill, they will hunt for that person for their entire existence. If they are set to protect, they will protect for the same duration. Because Dimitri set the two girls up to keep me safe, the way for them to execute a kill order on me would be if I break the contract agreement in such a way that they are left with no choice. I would have to strike up an arrangement of sorts with their natural enemy.

  Their one natural enemy just happens to be the Gello’Des. It was hard to conceal my knowledge of these creatures when Dimitri explained to me how the Gello’Des used to steal the blood servant’s children. The blood servants are extremely protective of their vulnerable young. Because of their nature, fatality rates are high and the servants only ever pair once in their entire lifespan. Therefore, the young are well revered and prized. The Gello’Des wanted to turn the young to join their armies. Their plan failed because the blood servants are hyper allergic to the vampire venom. They die near instantly. It took the Gello’Des a long time to realize this and by the time they did… They have been branded as a natural enemy. The blood servants will hunt to extinction, their own or the extinction of the Gello’Des.

  “They are not immortal?” I ask surprised.

  “No, they can live for over 200 years…. But they are not as me.”

  “How… did you get the services of Alina and Darya?”

  “Ah, the sisters are childless and without partners. I fought next to them against the Gello’Des and earned myself a willing contract with them for rescuing a few dozen pups.”

  “Dimitri! They’re not dogs!” I chastise him.

  “No… I apologize, my dear girl, I forget my company sometimes.”

  “So they are tied to you by will?”

  “Yes, and I can’t tell them to go away even if I wanted to. They are like pets, Carmen. Loyal, dedicated and stalkers.” Dimitri chuckles at his own joke.

  “You fight the Gello’Des?”

  “Yes, yes… What they are doing is atrocious. I don’t much stand the halfbreeds either, but… in my living life, I was a teacher. Children were my passion before they became my snack.” His crass joke gets another scowl from me and he puts his hands up in defense. “More selfishly, Carmen, I am what I am. If the Gello’Des are allowed to run amok, the existence of my… our… food supply will dwindle and vanish. Not to mention my income and trade!”

  I don’t like the picture Dimitri paints for me, but I cannot fault his logic on the matter. Eradicating humans would be detrimental on various fronts for all of them.

  “How—? Is there no way to keep Alina and Darya as my protectors Dimitri? Maybe get the Gello’Des to …”

  “The Gello’Des will not have an interest in you devochka, unless you are with child… which we know you’re not.” He grins again and I know he is being polite about my virginity. I am so tired but I have to settle this. My rules.

  “So, you see, you would have to, in some way… consort with a Gello’Des in order for those two,” he points, “ …to turn on you.”

  “How does one get a … what did you call it … a willing contract with the blood servants?”

  “Have you not paid attention, Carmen?! Finding them is the hard part. Fight the Gello’Des and you have a loyal comrade for life. Help their children… same outcome.”

  “What’s the catch, Dimitri? There is always a catch when it sounds too easy.”

  “You are clever.” Dimitri marvels, “Yes, there is a catch, but revealing that, girl, would be breaking Ancient’s rules. And we’re talking about your death, not your life… Sad as it may be for you to refuse immortality.”

  “Will you help me?” I ask; his grin is menacing.

  “If my time with you is at an end, and I get to kill Gello’Des? What a great funeral it would make for you, Carmen! So very fitting!”

  Dimitri sounds almost excited and I wonder if I have conceivably unleashed more than I can deal with. It is too late now. Satisfied with the agreement, I ask him how I would know if he will keep his word.

  “Because I am a cheater, a trader, a profiteer, Carmen, you cannot trust my word.” He lifts a finger as he walks, shaking it in the air absently. “Because you are currently my most prized and profitable possession - and I refuse to share your immortality if you will not be with me - you can be sure I will keep my arrangement.”

  I am satisfied and crawl back into the bed.

  ***

  Information

  John’s hands are trembling as he reads the note left for him from the Brazilian coven.

  “Dear Darling J,

  I may have met a redhead.

  I may have drunk her blood.

  I may know where she lives.

  Will you come to meet me?

  EB”

  It has been just over five months since Carmina left and John has still not gone back to the Volcano. He has followed every possible clue, which sometimes took him in circles. John is frustrated and feels that he has underestimated Carmina. The note in his hand is the last clue he has to follow at this moment. He recognizes the handwriting and the signature.

  John met many a person as a soldier and this one is most memorable. There is no way he would be contacted if there weren’t a great chance of the information being relevant. Dutch royals in particular don’t waste their time with idiocies but a chance to make good with an Ancient house is not taken lightly. The likelihood of your coven being destroyed based on false information is a high risk that most are not willing to take. There is also a mutual custom to observe; the military protocol is a camaraderie shared through service. John was good at his job of collecting intelligence in the military and it has earned him a lot of respect with informants - some of whom are not human.

  John lets the family know he’s heading for Brazil.

  At about the same time, Joseph mentions in casual passing to Liam about the books he gave Carmina. It never occurred to Joseph until he visited Liam in the cottage and realized that his books were not among the rest of the collection. Liam, desperate for any information about Carmina, learned that one of the books in question is a copy of the ‘House & Coven Maps’. Liam didn’t have to know much more than that to have hope again.

  “Joseph! She is a clever girl. If you gave her those maps, she has them with her! That is why we can’t find her! We are looking in the wrong places!”

  Joseph took a moment to grasp what Liam was aiming
at. They sit together with Liam’s family book and help each other understand the changes, fill in the gaps and mark the sightings or mention of Carmina. With the dates reported, they manage to form a loose pattern. Carmina had gone from land to island to land, often turning back and creating an omnidirectional distraction before moving on. The two men marvel again at her tenacity and smarts. Without the maps, they will not find her; even with the maps, it will take some doing.

  ***

  VIP

  Dimitri is strikingly antsy today. I am struggling to keep focus and the dark edges are constantly drawing closer. I close my ledger with a big smile, knowing that it has been a good period and with the extortionist Dimitri at the helm of income, the orphanage is flourishing with plenty spare to keep them for years to come.

  “Dimitri, what is the matter with you today? You look pale as a ghost - and that is saying something.”

  “Carmen, I am getting visitors. They are very important.” He announces. I give him my biggest grin and pout playfully.

  “I will be on my best behavior.” I coo, trying to settle him down.

  “Carmen, devochka, you are always on your best behavior, more so when you are sleeping.”

  “Darya and Alina must be bored already for the amount I’m sleeping of late!” I continue to tease, sending Dimitri into a fit of laughter.

  “Why do you choose humanity over immortality, Carmen?! Such a waste of your nature.”

  “The ones visiting are not social visitors to any coven they choose to call on, Carmen. They bring… Oh, don’t worry, my dear girl. You are safe here…”

  I frown at the last statement but have no time to question Dimitri; he is already out the door. It is becoming harder to hide my needs at the moment. I am starving and nothing I eat is helping. I am tired and a few running laps would not go amiss. The pain in my wrist is excruciating and burning constantly. It does not help with the tiredness either.

  It is not long after Dimitri’s departure that I feel the fever setting in. Alina and Darya rub me down with cold water. As I try to push my food away, they don’t allow it. The food has no appeal or taste to me and I know that it will not sooth the increasing craving I have hidden from them. I also determine the fever to be a more permanent resident and I decide to lie down to sleep. I hear Dimitri’s muffled voice when he speaks in hushed tones to his guests. He sounds more proud than usual today, even more egotistical than before, though… nervous. He is babbling.

  “She is a treasure. If she would have it, I would have given her immortality my Lords and Lady – but, alas, I have a contract.”

  I smile at the dramatic tones of mocked despair I’ve come to appreciate in Dimitri. My eyes close and I let the dark haze consume me.

  ** The dreams are nightmares are dreams and nightmares**

  I am standing at a cliff. No. At a closer look, it is a volcano.

  The heat coming off it is scorching my skin.

  Slowly but surely, my skin is heating up, peeling away to expose boiling blood.

  I scream in pain.

  It hurts so much.

  I don’t want to care anymore.

  I fall to my knees, leaning forward, whispering to the fiery hands reaching for me.

  “Just take me. Please… just take me. I’m too tired to fight.”

  The hands withdraw, denying me my request.

  My blood is on fire,

  I am standing stripped.

  My mind, my soul, my humanity exposed.

  “Please, just take me.” I desperately reach forward.

  The heat is excruciating, seeping into my bones.

  I collapse on the ground, twisting and contorting.

  I am crippled and cannot jump into the volcano.

  My voice is lost in the crackling cackle of the spitting pit.

  “You brought this onto yourself, Carmina.

  Look what you have done.”

  Jackie’s voice makes me heave when it taunts me. I see Liam’s body bent over her.

  “I don’t want you like this.” His beautiful golden eyes stoke the fires that consume my bones to the marrow.

  I can’t stand it; torture, despair. I can’t stand it anymore.

  The heat devours me.

  CARMINA WAKE UP! WAKE UP NOW, WOMAN! GODS, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!

  I wake up disorientated, calling for Alina who rushes forward with water. I feel Darya’s searching hands fluttering over me and instinctively know she is searching for damage. The dream must have been notably worrying for them to wake me with such urgency.

  I hear Dimitri’s voice sounding defensive and pleading.

  “My nobles, Lords and Lady! I have taken care of her; she will witness this for herself. I love this woman.”

  My mouth is so dry and I cannot move my hands. I want to get up but my body is not responding to the commands my brain is sending. I roll my head in the direction of Dimitri’s voice, throwing the accusation in his general direction. “You promised to save me!”

  “Oh devochka, I cannot save you from them. Forgive me girl, I am not your Ambrogio…”

  I giggle at the drama and waves with my hand dismissively; a lone movement I force from my body.

  “I’m not Selene either.”

  ***

  The Rescue

  It does not take John very long to track down EB who explains where he could possibly find the human girl in question. Careful not to create false information, the knowledge is extracted with a mere touch of John’s hand to the informant’s chest. There was no more doubt after that, no more questions to be answered. In shock and fear of the state that Carmina is in, John contacts the family and leaves it to his father to speak with the other Ancients. There are blood servants involved. John turns to the perfect features in front of him with a nod of appreciation.

  “Thank you Elizabeth; the Bierman clan has favor with the Wolf House.”

  Will convinces Fayola, Elder of the Bearded Vulture House, to join the search party. It was not easy, but Will and Joseph do not allow the third Ancient to reject their request without hearing them out. They use the two most pertinent rules to convey the urgency of their request.

  You do not expose the entirety of your nature to the humans.

  You do not sever or try to sever bonds.

  The bond between Carmina and Liam is weaker but not broken; if the Ancient houses do not act on information they have, they are accountable to the rules too. Joseph acts as witness to the information being passed on to Fayola. Maria was linked in too. Fayola was not too happy about the methods implemented to strong-arm her, but she was impressed by the tenacity of the Houses. She agrees partly because of the evidence held to her, but mostly because she is curious to know what it is about this inconsequential human that has both the Houses in such a state of driven purpose.

  Maria was sworn to secrecy. She was not to let Jackie know of the new information but to keep a close eye on her. Esmeriska fears that Jackie will pull another stupid stunt and Esmeriska would have to make good on her promise to kill the hellcat herself. While the prospect of doing just that is enticing, she is nothing if not honorable. Jackie will get her dues as soon as they find Carmina. It is not easy to contain their relief and excitement, but it has to be done. Jackie is an Ancient and her senses are keen and potent, therefore Margarith, Jarrod and Lilly alone were kept up to date with the latest. Jarrod insists on joining the Ancient party with the sound reasoning that if Carmina is in a ‘difficult’ space, he is possibly the exact person that will be able to reason with her. Their biggest fear is that Carmina knows they’re coming and will bolt again. When asked about his leaving creating suspicion with Jackie, it was Jarrod’s logic that won the argument: “She would be more suspicious if everyone is out there and not me.”

  Jarrod suggests that a few of the clan’s hunters are also sent out to the immediate surrounding areas at the same time. John was the first to approve of the idea, agreeing with Jarrod on keeping up the regular appearances.

  The
five Ancients and a half-breed converge on Russia. The stir it causes amongst the local covens is immeasurable. Only once the company assures the covens and acquaintances that they seek merely evidence are they approached with information.

  Dimitri Thana, as expected, is both a loved and hated entity. His enemies try to accuse him and his friends are loyal to a fault. It was not hard to find the traces of Carmina in the memory of several friends. It was even easier to find praise for her work in Russia amongst those who cared to know of such things. The company learns about the orphanage in Lilly’s name and stand in awe of the amount of work Carmina has done in such a short time without setting foot outside the Monastery. The glass box part angers Liam and John’s single comment was a general moody mutter about the inscription.

  “It should read: Suffering Life.”

  Jarrod feels the tension between the brothers and points out to them both how childish they are. If they had communicated properly they may have remembered they share a military back ground and called on the troops much sooner. He also points out to them that they need to work together now or there will be a bloodbath INSIDE their Houses that can be avoided…

  The information they gather is more than enough prove that Carmina is with Dimitri at the Abraham Monastery. Will was more than amused at Carmina’s choice. Rostov is one of the oldest towns in the country. It was also the hometown of Ivan the Terrible who commissioned the cathedral for the Abraham Monastery. Ironically, the Shrine of St. Dmitry of Rostov has no direct link to the Thana estate but Dimitri Thana is said to be an incarnation of sorts to the saint, referring to their shared love for arts and music.