“She is not as bad as you may think.”
Ewa flung her arms up in the air and mumbled things in Italian that he could not comprehend. She closed her eyes, sucking in a deep breath. Her stern expression was something Alexander was not used to seeing on the joy-loving, free-spirited sister he had come to love.
“Did you, at least, erase her memories of the event?”
Alexander glanced at the door, and she immediately moved to block it. “Well?”
“I have not.”
Her mouth fell open. She seemed like a broken doll. “You must speak to Jana about this. She will think of a way to fix this!”
“She is gone to St. Petersburg to stay with Max.”
Ewa’s eyes bulged, and she started pacing. The train of her dress repeatedly brushed the flooring with a soft shuffling sound.
Amused by the situation, Alexander stepped in front of his blood-sister and drew her into an embrace. “All will be well, Ewa. Katharine will not share our secret with another soul. She will be risking her marriage and status if she does.”
“Did you drink from her?”
“I have, and she did not seem to mind.”
Ewa frowned. “No woman would lie still while a vampire drinks her blood. You have not yet developed your ardour either, or am I mistaken?”
Alexander thought back. He did not remember using his will on her. “Could I do it subconsciously?”
She separated from him. “No. The bite is something we master over time. It requires effort and willpower. The ardour gives immense pleasure to the victim. If it is not controlled correctly, some victims become addicted and have to be killed to ease their suffering.”
“Then what does that mean?”
Ewa shrugged. “Many things or nothing at all. Could be your partner was too engrossed in the sexual act, or she had consumed something beforehand to numb her senses.”
Alexander memories brought back the days when Katharine was a little girl, playing in the garden. He watched her from afar because getting close to her was forbidden. His father had sternly warned him many a time.
The sun shined on her red curls. She ran around the flower garden with her arms spread out and her skirts kicked up with her small legs. Her infectious giggle filled the air, and Alexander grinned like a fool in the shadows of the house.
A second passed and her dainty foot caught on her dress. Her hands were instantly spread out in front of her, preventing her face from hitting the floor.
Alexander was ready to shout for help when the young girl stood and brushed the grass blades off her dress. Blood seeped through the material where it touched her knees. Yet, she did not cry or let her smile falter. At the time, he thought it was because she did not wish to worry her family.
“Are there people who cannot feel pain?” he asked.
“None I have met personally, but I have heard of them.”
Lev cleared his throat in the doorway, and everyone’s attention jumped to him. “Sir, are you ready to go to the Golden Chalice?”
Alexander smiled at his blood-sister. “I must be off, Ewa.”
She seemed torn as she placed a kiss on his cheek. “Do not do anything foolish. Remember the man who gave you a second chance at life.”
“Always do, dear sister,” he said and followed Lev out.
In his carriage, Alexander was rethinking his strategy. He could take Katharine for himself and diminish the Sokolov family name. She would not be pleased with his decision, he knew that. She certainly would not wish to be with him once his revenge came to an end. He buried his face in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees. Would my dearest mother even wish for such antics? She was a kind soul, willing to forgive the misgivings and misdemeanours of others. And that kindness brought her to an early grave…
Alexander’s fingers curled into fists. He glanced out the window at the evening streets of the city. The stench of the Moscow River had drowned the lesser scents of blood, sweat, perfume, and cheap tobacco of the common folk.
The carriage came to a halt, and Lev opened the door for him. “Mr Semyonov wished to meet with you before you go upstairs. He is waiting for you at the door.”
Alexander nodded and climbed out of the carriage. Studying his surroundings, he heard the cheers and occasional disappointment permeating through the mosaicked windowpanes. The Golden Chalice was a three-storey gaming house. As a child, he never wished to see the inside of it. When he ran errands for his mother in the evenings, drunken men would shuffle out of the premises with their overturned pockets and grumpy faces. With slurred words, some men reached out, begging him to give them his wages while others fell like dominos, face-first onto the cobbled ground.
“Mr Grekov, I am so glad you could come.” Fedor pushed off the red-brick wall and offered his hand.
Alexander shook hands with the man, assessing his tailored green coat. It seemed new and expensive, most likely to help the man keep up the appearances. He forced a smile. “It is an interesting business your family runs here.”
Fedor grinned and mirth was reflected in his blue eyes which were almost hidden by his brown locks that fell over his wide forehead. “My brother is away this evening. I can do as I please with the place in his stead.”
“Are Gleb and Yosef inside?”
Fedor lowered his voice. “Tonight they brought Andrey and his wife. She is quite a sight to see, my friend.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed. He mentally shook his head at the murderous thoughts swimming through his mind. There was no need for him to cause a scene. Much needed doing before he could take down the Sokolovs for good.
“Let us go inside,” Alexander suggested.
Fedor chuckled. “It is good to see you eager to begin the games.”
In that moment, Jana’s words echoed in his mind, ‘They are human. All of them are blinded by greed and driven by vengeance,’ and he could see the truth in her wisdom. All Fedor wished to do was bring misfortune to others. Alexander, as a vampire, was no different to this man.
Do I truly wish to continue my quest for vengeance?
Alexander strode inside the gaming house with Fedor. A pale man greeted them at the door with a faint bow and ushered them further into the foyer. They passed through a set of heavy double doors into a spacious room. The interior was mostly dark. The main light came from the candles on brass candleholders standing tall on round tables, which littered every available space on the ground floor. Sweating workers of all ages sat on stools with smoke from their cheap cigarettes rising up to the ceiling, creating a fog-like effect.
“Bring us to the top floor,” Fedor said to the porter.
“As you wish, Mr Semyonov,” the man replied in a calm manner.
They reached the far end of the room and followed the porter up the curving staircase to the third floor. The man opened the door for them, and Alexander found himself in a completely different environment.
“Welcome to the Golden Chalice, gentlemen,” the man said.
Noblemen and women chatted merrily with one other. Their expressions remained a perfect mask of politeness. Four large carved oak tables, which seated seven people on overstuffed red and gold armchairs, were spread out around the room evenly. Two of the tables were filled and the other two had the dealers standing at the head of the table.
Fedor swatted Alexander on the shoulder. “Have you never visited a place such as this before?”
“Not once,” Alexander admitted.
“To new experiences then!” Fedor pushed him further into the room.
Alexander immediately picked her out of the crowd. Katharine sat between Andrey and Yosef at a table next to the window at the far end of the room. Her bored face rested on her palm.
“Told you she was a beauty,” Fedor whispered next to him.
Alexander grunted in approval. Indeed, the other ladies seemed to fade when placed next to her.
Fedor guided Alexander to their table and grinned at everyone. “Welcome, Yosef, Andrey, and
the beautiful Katharine to the Golden Chalice. Allow me to introduce Alexander, son of the famous Grekov family.”
Yosef’s eyes hardened, and Andrey’s expression turned sour. The only one Alexander cared for was the woman his eyes rested on. Her pursed red lips upturned at the corners when she peeked at him from under her thick eyelashes.
“Let us play a game,” Alexander said, taking his seat at the table.
CHAPTER 14
The Golden Chalice, Moscow. Early October, 1776.
“Let us begin the game of Duraka. For those new at the table, let me explain the rules. There are thirty-six cards in this deck.” The dealer presented a fresh deck of cards. As he shuffled them, he continued, “After six cards are given to each of you, a card is placed face up in the middle of the table. That is the trump suit for the game. The first turn is decided by the person with the lowest card of that suit…”
Alexander listened to the instructions patiently. Noblemen or workmen, it did not matter. The rules remained the same for both classes, except the stakes were higher in his case.
Yosef reached into his trousers pocket and retrieved a hefty purse. Dropping it on the table produced a ting of coins hitting each other. He slid the purse toward the dealer, and Andrey followed suit.
Alexander glanced at Fedor who grinned and placed his own share on the table. It seemed that his partner was participating in the game, after all. Finally, Alexander brought forth his ten roubles for the bet. That money could have fed a poor family for a year, and he was wasting it on a game of chance. Guilt gnawed at him, yet he managed to push it to the back of his mind and constructed his best blank expression.
The dealer collected the money, counting them quickly, and took out the establishment’s tax. He distributed six cards to each player and planted seven of spades at the centre, with the rest of the deck face down on top of the lower half of the card.
“Anyone here in possession of the six of spades?” the dealer asked.
Andrey flashed a winning smile and waved the card around for everyone to see. Katharine clapped with mock excitement and stole a glance across the table at Alexander.
Alexander looked at the cards he was dealt. There wasn’t a single spade in his hand. That did not bode well for the beginning. As the game progressed, he had no choice but to take more cards into his hands, rendering him the loser of that round.
Yosef smirked as he received the money. “You are not made for the adult games.”
Alexander raised a brow and leaned back in his seat while the dealer dealt the next hand. “What makes you think so?”
Yosef’s amusement was replaced with a scowl. “You know exactly who you are, Alexander. You grew up under my care, and this is how you repay my kindness of all those years?”
Fedor shifted closer in his seat, suddenly interested in the conversation.
“Make no mistake, I may look the same as your servant, but I am not the same man,” Alexander retorted. And it was the truth. He no longer saw himself as a man. He was a creature of the dark that could not walk freely in direct sunlight. That alone was not what bothered him the most. It was the monster in him that was waiting for his control to slip. If he snapped, his thirst would take over, and he would have to carry the burden of having claimed another life.
The second round was won by Fedor. The man almost bounced in his seat as he pulled the money towards him. He winked to Alexander, telling him that the next round was when their plan would begin.
Fedor sighed dramatically and studied his winnings. “Playing with such measly amounts is not very entertaining! I feel a better challenge would be much more…interesting.”
Yosef and Andrey eyed Fedor with weariness.
“What kind of challenge?” Andrey asked.
“Why don’t we bet…let me think…” He scratched his head and exclaimed, “The stores we own! Yosef can bet the jewellers, Andrey the teahouse, Alexander the Red Lily, and I will use the Golden Chalice?”
The nobles around them began to whisper and gathered around their table.
Andrey shot out of his seat. “That is an outrageous proposal!”
Yosef eyed the dealer. “Surely such a game would not be accepted?”
The dealer shrugged and rolled up his sleeves. “Sir, if it is what the master wishes then it is a plausible game.”
The table went silent. Every man assessed their opponents. Murmurs of the spectators also died down, killing any and all noise.
Alexander could pick out the heartbeats in the room contracting with excitement. He tuned them out and fought not to drown in the overpowering mixture of scents and perfumes. He rested his elbows on the table and faced Yosef. “Are you afraid to play the game?”
Yosef snorted. “I am not afraid of the game. The stakes are simply too high.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, it would seem Yosef Sokolov is scared that luck is not on his side tonight,” Fedor announced. “You should all call out his name with cheer.”
The nobles began to chant his name. Andrey seemed uncertain in his seat as he looked to his father-in-law for guidance.
Katharine, too, sat there with bewilderment on her face. She raised a brow at Alexander with an evident question reflecting in the green depths of her eyes, and he shrugged in return.
“We shall play then,” Yosef announced, and the whole room erupted with applause.
The dealer dealt the cards and the chosen suit for the match was the hearts. Alexander lifted the cards and a wave of disappointment filled him. Not a single heart was in sight. He held a pitiful mixture of spades and diamonds. He briefly glanced at Fedor who seemed to be enjoying himself more than usual. This was not what they had agreed on, which meant that another game was afoot besides the one everyone could see.
“It is my turn first,” Yosef said and flashed everyone his six of hearts.
The nobles clapped softly. Their eyes were trained on the proceedings with scrutiny and interest.
Alexander sorted the cards in his hand, throwing out as many as he could towards the first and second person to be attacked, so he could draw more cards from the deck. Yet, for some reason, not a single heart fell into his grasp.
It was his turn to be attacked, and Fedor set down a Jack of Diamonds. Andrey added two more Jacks, and Alexander begrudgingly took the cards because he did not have anything he could use to beat them.
The round went on and the heat in the room climbed. Men fanned themselves with napkins and ladies with fans to keep the still air circulating around them.
His loss was imminent, and Alexander already knew it. He held too many cards in his hands to get rid of, and without a single heart he was defenceless. His eyes found Katharine, and she looked down at the table, avoiding his gaze.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice almost drowned out by the excited crowd.
Once the last card of the deck was taken by Yosef, and he finished his move, the winner was announced. Yosef won the game, and Fedor grinned at Alexander who realised what really went on.
Alexander dropped his useless cards on the table as people in the room offered Yosef their congratulations.
“Leaving so soon?” Yosef asked.
Alexander did not reply. He pushed through the crowd and shuffled away with defeat branded on his soul. He had fallen right into Yosef’s trap without realising it. Fedor was playing him, too.
When he reached the staircase, Katharine’s voice stopped him, and he faced her.
“What do you want from me?”
She stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. “I am so sorry. Fedor came to speak with Papa yesterday, but I did not hear what it was they spoke of. I thought it was minor things. Now I know they were planning to rid you of your business.”
Alexander brushed her hand away. “It does not matter now.”
“Katharine, what are you doing with this man?” Andrey growled from the doorway.
Alexander glared at him. He was still in two minds about picking Katharine up and tak
ing her with him. “Do not speak to her in such a way.”
“I will speak to my wife in any way I please,” Andrey snapped and grasped Katharine’s wrist. “Let us return to your father. He is pleased with his winnings.”
She struggled in his hold and used her heel to stomp on Andrey’s foot. He released her wrist, and she stumbled backwards. Her heels caught on her dress’ train and, before Alexander could react, shock filled her face as she lost balance and tumbled down the stairs of the establishment.
A loud bone-snapping sound echoed in Alexander’s mind, freezing him on the spot. His heart squeezed, and he called out her name in the form of an uncertain whisper. He closed the distance between them, lifting her lolling head with his hands. Past the cheering humans, Andrey’s shouts and complaints, he listened for her heart that no longer fluttered. Blood trickled down the side of her cracked skull and wet his hands.
He hated the fact that he wanted to lick it. Hated that she was lying there, and he could do nothing to save her. Nonetheless, he bit into his wrist, opened her mouth and let his blood flow into her mouth.
“Please wake up…” he pleaded.
Andrey yanked his hand away, trying to tug her body out of his grasp.
Alexander glowered at him.
The man fell backwards, his expression contorted with fear. “Monster… You’re a monster!”
Alexander did not care for his words. Immeasurable pain coursed through him and his heart shattered into a million pieces that were held together by her existence. He looked at Katharine’s peaceful expression and tears threatened to overflow with this torment. God was unfair. He had lost everything he cared about: his family, his home, his business, his love. What is left?
Something hard hit him across the back, and Alexander’s attention snapped to Andrey who clutched a stool in his hands.
“Get away from my wife!” he screamed.
Alexander’s jaw clenched. He lowered Katharine onto the landing with care. In a blink of an eye, he held Andrey by the throat. The stool fell with a loud thud, summoning the attention of the nobles on the third floor.
Alexander: Memoirs (A Vampire In Love Book 1) Page 10
