by Jan McDonald
Roman stood up and indicated for Mike to sit down. Mike ignored the invitation.
“I know how you must feel, Mike …”
“Do you?” interrupted Mike. “Do you really? I feel like maybe I don’t belong here after all.”
Roman’s face expressed his genuine distress. “I’m so sorry, Mike. I really am. It’s just that with Lowell, it’s so raw, even after all this time. She is so beautiful, and yet she has that beast inside her – I’m so desperate for a cure to be found, I just thought … well, I don’t know what I thought. But when this vampire thing came up, I could see the connection and I knew I had no choice. Forgive me, please. And I promise you, there is nothing else that you don’t know of here.”
Mike knew instinctively that Roman was speaking the truth and he understood – he had experienced much the same feeling with his own daughter, Adain’s, ‘differences’. His forgiveness was immediate and absolute, and if anything he felt even more committed to the Strazca than ever before.
Further conversation was brought to an abrupt halt as Beckett burst through the front door, Darius once again in his arms.
Mike and Roman were on the scene immediately.
“What do you need?” Roman asked.
“I need to keep him asleep until we can get organised to help him properly. All our resources at the Sanctuary are gone. There is no anti-HVV serum and not enough donated blood. And I need to keep him … secure.”
Roman understood immediately and headed towards the stairs down to the basement. Beckett and Mike followed right behind.
The routine scanning to gain access and entry through the fake bookcase seemed to take forever, but then they were once again in the underground facility. The white-coated Kurt Bauer looked up from a microscope and hurried towards them. One glance at Darius and then at Roman, who nodded almost imperceptibly, was enough. He turned and opened the door to the room adjacent to the sleeping Lowell.
Beckett laid Darius onto the bed and turned to Kurt. “Put him to sleep – I mean deep sleep, but I need to be able to wake him quickly. Can you do that?” He nodded towards Lowell’s window.
Kurt understood and left the room, returning almost immediately with a tray of glass vials and loaded syringes, one of which he inserted into Darius’s vein.
The sharp pain of the needle being inserted into the back of his hand woke him before the drug could be administered; he immediately responded with rage. His face contorted and his vampire strength returned from out of nowhere. The tray of syringes was sent flying against the wall, swiftly followed by Kurt. Darius was in a feeding frenzy and about to get his next meal from Kurt’s throat.
Beckett hurled himself across the room and ripped Darius away from Kurt before he could do any damage. His fist connected with Darius’s jaw with a sharp crack, his head went back and his body ended up against the opposite wall.
Mike had never seen Beckett in vampire mode and was momentarily shocked, but his friend’s demeanour returned to his normal calm as he picked the unconscious Darius up and returned him to the bed.
Moments later the needle was once again in Darius’s vein and Kurt drove the drug home, sending him into oblivion.
“I thought he could go into a deep sleep to heal himself … what did you call it … the Long Sleep?” Mike asked.
Beckett shook his head. “It takes a great deal of time and patience to master it – years – and he’s responding to the most basic of needs – he’s ravenously hungry.” He looked at Kurt. “I’m sorry, I should have been prepared. Are you all right?”
Kurt nodded his response. “I will keep him asleep, don’t worry. And I have the drug standing by that will counter the effects almost instantly. You just have to say the word?”
Beckett nodded. “I’ll be back as soon as I can with a donor. He has fed from me, but he should have human blood now. Too much vampire blood will only increase the hunger. Raven needs rest too. I need you to watch him until I get back, Mike. Lane has gone to meet with her lawyer to arrange for funds to be released immediately. We need to begin rebuilding the Sanctuary without delay. Too many depend upon it to do nothing. She had a call from Mihai – the head of the Council – Vasile Tepes is close to finding something that will aid him in destroying all of the Created. I don’t know any more than that, but I believe that Lane does. I don’t want to leave Darius, but I need to find a donor for him. As I said, I daren’t give him any more vampire blood.”
Mike was taking off his jacket. “Take what you need,” he said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: TO TRANSYLVANIA
One phone call from Mihai was all it took for a plane to be waiting for them at Louis Armstrong Airport, outside the city – fuelled and ready to fly them to Bucharest.
As usual, the vampire network was in place and running smoothly and with little delay they were boarding the private Boeing 737 that would take them to Bucharest via London.
Lafayette raised an eyebrow as he boarded the plane that had been stripped inside and now resembled a high-end apartment. The smile from the beautiful cabin attendant revealed her neat fangs, which made him relax. No need for pretence, obviously.
She greeted Mihai with deference. “Patriarch, it is our pleasure to be of service. My name is Rose and I will be here to attend to you and your guest during the ten hour flight to London Heathrow.” She returned her smile to Lafayette.
He grinned back at her, imagining the relaxing flight, with plenty of rum, cigars, and possibly a large drink of fresh blood.
Mihai read him. “Forget it, Lafayette. You may have one drink – for the remainder of the flight you will put yourself into the vampire Small Sleep and recoup your energies for what lies ahead. We will be joined in London by Lane Dearing, who will accompany us to Bucharest.”
Lafayette’s curiosity outweighed his disappointment. “Lane Dearing? She’s a high-flyer on the council, is she not?”
Mihai nodded to him as they sat on facing plush sofas and fastened their seat-belts. As per instructions, the plane had begun to taxi to the runway with priority clearance as soon as they had boarded the plane.
“Yes,” he replied. “She will be my successor, though she doesn’t know it yet.”
Lafayette grinned. “Ha! A Matriarch, then. That’s new – and very brave of you. Female and a Created. The Born are going to love her!”
Mihai’s look was enough to quell any further conversation as the plane took off, and once the seat-belt light pinged to allow them more freedom, he walked towards the rear of the plane, where several cubicles housed extremely comfortable beds.
“Sleep, Lafayette – if you know what’s good for you.”
Mihai’s voice was steady and his gaze even steadier, and Lafayette realised then just how much trouble he was about to be in. He claimed a bed and lay down, sleep nowhere near him, his thoughts in free-fall and his longing for his home in the Quarter a powerful stimulant. But Mihai’s warning had been clear, and yet here he was, flying towards what now appeared to be more than a spat between the ancients – something he had always avoided at all costs. He forced his heart-rate to slow, his breathing to become almost imperceptible, and his mind clear of all distraction. Slowly, very slowly, the Small Sleep overtook him and he became oblivious to his surroundings and the passing of time. He drew strength into every cell of his body, pulling the energy from his hidden reserves, making him hungry.
Mihai’s sleep was troubled. He was reaching out to his maker, the First One – searching the ether for the energy signature of Jean-Baptiste, and finding nothing. He frowned in his sleep.
*
Lane looked tired, but wouldn’t admit to it. Her priority on returning home had been Darius and she had neglected to feed. Two of her longest-serving donors met with her and she left with enough blood for herself and for Darius. Now she was returning to Linwood House with a message from Mihai – the future of the Created and the Council lay in the balance, for if Vasile Tepes got his hands on the Bloody Chalice and succeeded in resurrec
ting Vlad, all bets were off.
Mihai had been clear – they were all needed in what was to come – and what was to come was in Transylvania.
He was en-route from New Orleans having failed to find his maker but had in his company an eighteenth century vampire called Lafayette, who had been a close companion of Jean-Baptiste Vincent, the First One. They would stop off in London to refuel, and pick up Lane and Beckett at the same time. And time, it would seem, was of the essence. She made a quick calculation and decided that given the time Mihai and Lafayette had left New Orleans and the usual flight time to London, she had enough time to get back to Linwood House and collect Beckett. She was adamant that Darius should remain, even though she knew that once he was awake she would have a battle on her hands closer to home.
The miles were eaten up while she tried to relax and focus her vampire senses, and when she walked through the door of the Strazca headquarters she was sharp and alive and ready for the task ahead. Mihai had been convinced that he knew the location of the chalice – inside the fountain in Tirgoviste. It appeared to make sense. Vlad and all of the House of Tepes would have expected it to be removed as far away as possible, never dreaming that it remained within their grasp all the time. Lane smiled at the thought of how angry Vasile would be when he discovered that. The smile faded quickly though – it all depended on who would get to it first.
She hurried down to the underground facility with Roman, anxious to feed Darius with human blood and assuage his hunger long enough to enable more donors to be found.
Beckett stood and pulled her to him; his sense of loss had grown in her absence. She kissed him gently on the forehead.
“Hello, Handsome. Missed me?”
He grinned at her and dragged his fingers through his hair in his characteristic mannerism when he was anxious. “You have no idea, Legs,” he said, using his affectionate name for her.
“Well, save it for later, we need to wake Darius. He needs to feed and then go back to sleep. We have a journey ahead.”
She sat on the sofa and pulled him down next to her and explained Mihai’s message to him. He continued to cast anxious looks at the sleeping Darius; there was no way he wanted to leave him and there was no way that he would abandon Lane either. Still, if Darius was compliant after feeding they would perhaps be able to drug him back into the arms of deep sleep.
He signalled to Kurt, who came immediately.
“Wake him up, please, Kurt. We have to allow him to feed. But be prepared to send him straight back to sleep once he’s fed. OK?”
Kurt nodded his understanding and crossed to the bed, syringe in hand.
In moments Darius’s eyes fluttered open and Mike was conscious of holding his breath, alert and ready for trouble that didn’t materialise. Beckett was at his side in an instant and Lane moved closer to the foot of the bed. It could have been any family scene in any ICU, but this was a newly-turned vampire who had already killed with savagery and the ‘parents’ were two powerful vampires who held the future of a whole lot of people in their hands.
Mike thought, ‘Everything revolves around the next few minutes and I don’t know why.’
Darius closed his eyes again and turned his head away, unable to look Beckett in the eye as memories of his previous actions settled squarely in his mind. “I’m so sorry,” he said, in a thick voice that disguised nothing of his emotions.
Beckett held his hand. “You gave us all a scare for a minute, but it’s OK. Things will settle. You were turned by a vicious and cruel vampire, which means you have his blood rushing through your veins. It also means that his cruelty is also affecting you. It will settle – I promise.” His unspoken thoughts were, ‘But there will always be that ability within you to be a ruthless killer. Pray God you will learn how to control it.’
Lane moved around the bed holding a plain pewter goblet. Mike flinched at the contents but refused to look away.
“Here,” she said. “You need to feed. This way.” Her meaning was clear and Darius took the goblet from her and put it to his lips, casting a brief look at Beckett, who smiled and nodded his support. Darius drank long and deep and this time Mike glanced away, feeling that somehow he was witnessing a private moment – a sacrament.
The atmosphere shifted and Beckett visibly relaxed as if a moment of danger had passed. There was almost a feeling of relief palpable in the air – that lasted all of twenty seconds. His expression changed and he moved closer to Darius.
“Son, we have to leave you for a while. I really don’t want to have to do this and you know I would NEVER leave you at such a crucial time, but I have no choice – we have no choice. I’m leaving you in excellent care and I’ll be back before you know it.”
It was one of those breath-taking moments that remain deeply etched in a memory forever. Darius’s movements were so fast it seemed to Mike that he vanished from the bed and rematerialized at the door.
“I know what this is about and if you imagine for one second that I’m going to lie here while you face this, you’re out of your mind. And if you think you can keep me here under chemical cosh, you need to think again. I don’t know where this strength is coming from but it’s going to take a bigger syringe. Now, can I have some clothes please?”
Mike could do nothing to prevent the laugh that came unbidden – this was the young man he’d begun to get to know. Lane protested but Beckett just went in search of his black leather jacket and pants that had become his favourite, hoping the blood had been cleaned off from Darius’s recent savage attacks. Mike followed him.
When Mike caught up with Beckett he stood in front of him, blocking his path back to Darius’s room.
“I know that technically this isn’t my fight, but I am coming with you. Beth is safe here and there is no change in her, nor has there been – and according to you, it is unlikely that there will be anytime soon. So you need to start filling me in, because like it or not, I’m with you in this. Refresh my memory – exactly how do you destroy a vampire?”
Beckett’s eyes cleared and he relaxed just a fraction. He put his hand on Mike’s arm as he laughed involuntarily. “You kill me, Mike.”
“Let’s bloody well hope not!”
*
Half an hour from London, Rose woke Mihai and Lafayette with ornate goblets of blood. She smiled at Lafayette. “Sorry, no rum for you – Patriarch’s orders.” She winked at him. “But there is plenty for the return journey. And cigars.”
For the first time, he began to wonder if there would be a return journey.
The plane landed and taxied to a holding area for refuelling, during which time, a sleek black car pulled up on the tarmac beside them. Lane looked tired, but there were deep lines around her eyes and mouth that deterred Lafayette from introducing himself. Lane nodded to him briefly and greeted Mihai with a kiss on the cheek. Mike smiled at the human gesture.
She cast a glance at Lafayette and Mihai smiled and nodded. “Darius is OK. I will stake my life on it.”
Mihai frowned, “You may have to. And Beckett, good to see you again, my friend.” He held out his hand to Mike and looked searchingly at Lane.
“This is Mike Travis, he’s a special friend of Beckett’s and yes, he’s human, but he has … experience … in fighting monsters – for want of a better word. It’s OK. He’s coming with us. Beckett has told him everything that he needs to know on the way.”
Mihai frowned.
Lane ignored it and continued. “How sure are you that Vlad is really not dead? And Vasile knows the whereabouts of the Bloody Chalice? How could this happen, Mihai? How?”
“I’m afraid it is true. As for the how …” he shrugged, “it doesn’t matter. What is important is that we find it before Vasile Tepes. He is close to getting his hands on the chalice. I told you the seal is not where I left it, but I believe I know where it is now. On Snagov Island in the grave of a monk. But, God willing, it will only serve to distract him. I believe the Chalice is in Tirgoviste – where it always was
– but now it is buried beneath the fountain in the town square. Vasile is ahead of us, heading for Snagov. We may yet beat him to it.”
She frowned. “And if we don’t?”
Mihai’s expression didn’t change. “Then we have a very big problem.”
The plane was refuelled and they were soon taxiing towards the end of the runway, again with priority clearance for take-off. Mihai was busy making calls to the network in Transylvania and once he was satisfied that they would be met at Bucharest airport with transport to Tirgoviste he once again returned to his bed to gather strength for whatever was coming. Just before the Small Sleep overtook him, he sent a text message to the Council.
Youth and anxiety kept Lafayette from sleep, and Lane took the opportunity to get to know him. After all, they would have to have each other’s backs in the not too distant future.
Beckett tried to get Darius to sleep but it was never going to happen.
Four hours later they were stepping onto the tarmac in Bucharest and being ushered into a waiting four-by-four vehicle for the last leg of the journey to Tirgoviste.
CHAPTER THIRTY: BETRAYAL
Lucy clung on to the side of the small boat as Vasile steered it towards the shore of tiny Snagov Island. The grey water of the lake appeared forbidding, as if it knew the reason for Vasile’s visit but didn’t dare to impede him.
He beached the boat and they strode together towards the old chapel; Lucy keeping pace with him, stride for stride. The gathering dusk sent grey shadows flitting around the interior of the chapel and towards the altar, a grave in the floor caught his attention. He fell to his knees to examine the inscription on the lid.
