by N M Thorn
Taken aback, the old man narrowed his eyes and recognition dawned on his face. “Son of a bitch,” he exhaled but didn’t lower his machete. “You’re Cole Adams, aren’t you? Or should I call you Nikolai Chernov?”
Cole flinched at the sound of his real name, but quickly realized that since he was one of the older vampires that had taken up residence in Arizona, his past had most likely been researched all the way to the moment of his birth and recorded by the local Wardens Order.
“Cole Adams would be fine, Mr. Cooper,” replied Cole calmly, lowering his arms. “Please, remove the silver. I just want to talk.”
“Come here, boys.” Aaron Cooper looked back and whistled.
Two large Doberman pinschers rushed to his call from behind the counter. They approached Cole and snarled, showing off their dangerous fangs.
“Keep an eye on him, boys,” murmured Aaron, petting the dog closest to him. Then he turned to Cole and smirked. “Don’t go anywhere, would yah?”
Cole sighed and lowered his head. Aaron walked toward the counter and leaned over it. He came back a moment later with a cellphone in his hand. Quickly dialing the number, he put it on speaker. After a single dialing tone, a man answered the call.
“Aaron,” he said with a heavy French accent. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine, but I have quite an interesting situation,” Aaron replied, smirking.
“Oh?”
“I have a vamp in my store. I decorated him with silver like the world’s best Christmas tree,” continued Aaron, throwing a sarcastic glance at Cole. “The reason I called you, Master Warden, is because he’s asking for your help.”
“A vampire?” repeated the man on the other side of the line, disbelief clear in his voice.
“Not just any vampire, Master de la Crosse. Cole Adams.”
“Cole Adams?” repeated Luc de la Crosse. “Put him on the phone, please.”
Aaron shrugged and squatted in front of Cole. Bringing the phone closer to his face, he flicked his eyebrow at him. “Speak.”
“Master de la Crosse,” said Cole calmly. “This is Cole Adams, and I need your help. I swear I’m not here on the Queen’s behalf. As a matter of fact, I risked my life by coming here, my lord.”
The line went dead, and a moment later, a portal opened behind Aaron, making him flinch and stagger back, almost running into Cole. The dogs snapped around and wagged their short tails eagerly before turning back. A young man with long dark hair pulled into a low ponytail on the back of his head walked out of the portal and halted in front of Cole, crossing his arms.
“Aaron, take the net off,” he ordered with a sigh. “I’m sure Monsieur Adams is not here for an early lunch. Otherwise, silver or no silver, you’d be dead by now.”
Cole smirked and bit his lip, stifling a burst of laughter bubbling up in his chest. Rising to his feet, he ripped the net off, tearing it in a few places. The silver burned his hands, and he hissed, throwing it to the floor with disgust. The sharp move in combination with the effects of the silver, however, made him slightly dizzy, and he swayed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Your chains are too thin to hold an old vampire like me, Mr. Cooper. It would probably hold a newborn vamp though,” he explained quietly. “Anyway, like I said earlier, I’m here because I need help.” He raised his hands up and watched the burns heal on his skin without leaving a mark.
Luc de la Crosse offered his hand to him, and Cole took it, squeezing it in a handshake.
“I’ve heard some interesting things about you, Monsieur Adams,” said the Master Warden, giving him a quick once-over. “Let’s sit down so you can tell me how I can be of assistance.”
He motioned for Cole to come with him and headed toward the backdoor. As soon as he made a move, both dogs growled, shifting closer to him, but Aaron held them back. He locked the front door and turned off the neon sign before following the Master Warden and Cole.
As they walked through the shop, Cole couldn’t help but look around, admiring the collection of printed work assembled by Aaron. The scent of books, old and new, touched his nostrils, and the corners of his lips curved up in a blissful smile as he allowed himself to relax for a brief moment.
He loved books and preferred reading to spending time in front of a TV. The old Browns’ mansion, which he purchased in Blue Creek recently, had enough space, and the first thing he did after moving in was converting one of the bigger rooms into a home-library.
“You like books, don’t you?” muttered Aaron, observing him with interest.
Cole nodded, coming back to reality. Aaron opened the door, letting Luc de la Crosse and Cole go through first. Leaving the dogs outside, he walked in, inviting his guests to sit down.
The backroom, just like the main area of the shop, was overloaded with books. But these books weren’t your modern-day novels. Ancient grimoires and books of shadows in thick leather bounds, endless tomes of spells, collections of scrolls, demonology books and works of ancient witches and wizards were preserved behind thick glass or in air-tight compartments.
A scent of vanilla and an almond-like odor lingered in the air, and the soft blue light shone dimly, bouncing off the glass cases. Everything looked peaceful enough, but with his sharp vampiric senses, Cole detected a barely noticeable odor of some protection magic and the presence of silver all around.
“Stay away from the walls, Mr. Adams, and you’ll be all right.” Luc de la Crosse approached a small table, pulled one of the chairs out and sat down.
Cole took a chair across from him and settled down, folding his arms on top of the table. The Warden tilted his head slightly, his bright hazel eyes drilling into Cole as if he were trying to read his mind.
“So, what brought a vampire to the Wardens Order?” he asked after a moment. “Speak freely, Monsieur Adams. Why are you here?”
“The Lady of the Mirror and Paradise Manor,” replied Cole, meeting Luc’s attentive gaze without blinking.
“Oh?” Luc de la Crosse frowned, his wide shoulders rising slightly as he leaned forward. “I wouldn’t take you for the type to believe in urban legends.”
“No, I don’t believe in urban legends,” agreed Cole. “I also don’t believe the Lady of the Mirror is a ghost. However, I believe River Evans is in danger, and the Lady of the Mirror is trying to warn her.”
Luc de la Crosse and Aaron exchanged a quick look. “And since when does the Arizona Vampire Court care about what happens to a single human?” huffed Aaron.
“I already said I’m not here on behalf of the Queen or the Court,” said Cole quietly, throwing a reproachful gaze at Aaron. “I’m here because I want to save River Evans.”
“I hope you understand our unease, Monsieur Adams,” interjected Luc, raising his hand to stop Aaron. “Unless River Evans is your human... um... donor—which I have a hard time believing that—everything you say sounds too farfetched. An ancient vampire who is willing to take a chance with his freedom or life to help a single human? I’m sorry, but you have to give us a better explanation.”
“Okay...” Cole closed his eyes, trying to gather his thoughts. “You know about all the mysteries surrounding Paradise Manor? The three founding families were practically wiped out of existence since they built Blue Creek.”
Luc inclined his head. “Yes, I know all that.”
“River Evans is the last surviving member of the founding families, and whatever killed the other family members is now after her,” continued Cole. “My old friend was hired to protect River. Unless he finds a way to communicate with the spirit of the mirror, he’ll fail. River will die.” He raised his hand, a bitter smirk appearing on his lips before he could stop it. “I know I’m a vampire—you don’t need to remind me. But I do care. I care for my friend and for River, otherwise I wouldn’t be here, would I?”
A pregnant pause hung in the room as Cole awaited the Master Warden’s response.
“Who is your friend?” asked Luc after a while. “Ar
e you sure he is your friend? Sending a vampire to meet with a representative of the Destiny Council?” Luc chuckled humorlessly. “The only reason you’re still alive is because of what we’ve heard about you. Your reputation precedes you, Monsieur Adams.”
Cole didn’t move, didn’t blink an eye, staring straight into the Warden’s eyes. “I am sure he’s my friend, and he would do nothing to endanger me.” He looked to the side, breaking their eye contact. “He doesn’t know I’m here. He would never let me...” His voice trailed off, and he got up, moving slowly and heavily as if he were drained. “If you allow me, my lord, I would like to leave.”
“Cole, wait. Please...” Luc rose and reached to take his arm but changed his mind half-way and lowered his hand. “I want to help you, but can you at least give me the name of your friend? I have to know with whom I’m dealing, especially since he’s obviously touched by the World of Magic. Don’t you think?”
Forgive me, brother...
“Damian Blake,” said Cole, turning to face the Warden. “He works for River’s father, and that’s how he got involved in the mess surrounding Paradise Manor.”
“Damian Blake.” Luc furrowed his brow, his gaze going out of focus for a moment. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him. What is he?”
“He’s nobody special, my lord,” replied Cole, wondering how it was possible that the Wardens Order didn’t have any records of Damian’s existence. “Just a hunter. Recently, he relocated to Blue Creek from Florida.”
Aaron got up, a thoughtful expression suffusing his features. “Is he—,” he mumbled, scratching his head. “Whatchamacallit... I think the local vamps call him the Shadow Slayer. Is that your friend?”
Cole smirked, suppressing the desire to roll his eyes. “Slayer he is not,” he replied. “He’s a hunter. He hunts anything supernatural that kills humans. In your books, he should be marked as a good guy.”
Leaning forward, Luc planted his fist against the table and his eyes turned white, the magical energy field spiking around him. In a few seconds, he straightened and blinked a few times, his eyes returning to their normal hazel color.
“That’s strange,” he muttered, confusion reflected on his face. “I couldn’t find any record of a hunter with the name Damian Blake or the Shadow Slayer in the Wardens records.” He glanced at Cole, shaking his head. “You’re giving me a migraine, mon ami. You are an ancient vampire who lives among humans, leading a nearly human existence. Your friend is a slayer or a hunter who’s not registered with the Destiny Council. How the hell is it possible?” He chuckled softly and gestured for Cole to sit down. “So, what kind of information do you and your friend require. I’ll help you.”
Cole sat down, stifling a sigh of relief. “I believe the Lady of the Mirror is not a ghost but a spirit. What I don’t know is how to communicate with her.”
“There are hundreds of different spirits that possess mirrors,” said Aaron, wrapping his cardigan tighter around himself as if he were cold. “Do you know which one you’re dealing with?”
“I can’t be a hundred percent sure, but since this spirit refused to show my reflection, I believe I’m dealing with a Zerkalitsa,” said Cole.
“You’re Eastern Slav, aren’t you, Cole?” asked Luc. Cole nodded, and the Master Warden continued, “Aaron is right, there are many spirits that live in mirrors, but we should start somewhere, and Zerkalitsa sounds like a good place to start.” He got up, a soft smile touching his lips. “Come here tomorrow at around eleven-ish in the morning. I should have an answer for you by that time.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Cole bowed slightly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Luc de la Crosse nodded and arched his brow at Aaron. “Please escort our guest out,” he said, humorous twinkles dancing in his eyes. As Aaron turned around to leave, he added, “And please try not to embellish him with any silver décor on his way out, Aaron.”
Aaron grunted, a blush creeping up to his cheeks, but didn’t say anything and opened the door for Cole.
Chapter 23
~ Damian Blake ~
The walk back to Paradise Manor seemed endless. It wasn’t only the sun in zenith blasting mercilessly from the unblemished blue sky that bothered him. In his mind, Damian kept going over everything he knew, wondering if there was anything he could do to avoid the trip and the meeting with the Guardians, but couldn’t come up with anything that would make sense.
By the time he reached the mansion, he was drenched with sweat, breathing hard as if he had just finished a marathon. The house was blissfully empty, so he went to his room, quickly took all his clothes off and hopped into the shower without waiting for the water to warm up.
After the shower, he got dressed and made his way to River’s bedroom. Even though he knew Cole was going to be keeping an eye on her, a nagging feeling of dread wouldn’t leave him, constantly throbbing somewhere in his chest.
Channeling his magic, he cast a few protection spells, placing them over River’s entire bedroom. Interweaving his magical energy with the elemental power of Earth, he drew a few runes at each corner of her door, creating additional wards. He made sure that his wards wouldn’t react to Cole, River, and Sam. However, he wasn’t positive that they were strong enough to withhold a prolonged attack by any powerful being of magic, and that just added to his overall feeling of unease. After all, whoever this winter-monster was, it wasn’t lacking in the power department.
Gypsy trotted slowly through the hallway and halted next to him, rubbing against his legs. He picked her up, scratching her head between her ears. The cat stretched and yawned, purring loudly.
“Gypsy,” he said softly, walking to his bedroom, “I’ll be gone for a few days, hopefully not more than three. I’m leaving you in charge. Take care of River and Cole for me, would you?”
“You’re leaving?” The cat looked up, her green eyes staring at him without blinking. “Not the smartest idea on your part...” She stretched again, pushing the tips of her claws into his forearm. “But no one ever blamed you for being smart, anyway.”
“Thanks, darling.” He laughed, dropping the cat on his bed. She snickered and sat down on her butt, hanging her hind legs off the edge and crossing them. Damian threw his hands up. “You can’t even sit like a normal cat.”
“Being normal is highly overrated and extremely boring,” murmured Gypsy. “Frankly, you’re not a poster child for normal either, as far as I can see. That’s why I like you—you’re anything but boring.”
“Thank you, I guess?” Damian sat down next to her, sobering up. “Listen, Gypsy. While I’m gone, Cole is going to stay in my room. He’s a lot more sensitive to the fluctuations in the magical energy field than I am, but still... You may notice something before him. So, if it happens, wake him up.”
Gypsy measured him with her emerald eyes, and he could swear the cat was snickering inwardly.
“No problem, I’ll keep an eye on your cute vamp, but you have to pay for it. I don’t offer my services for free.” She winked at him in that cat-like manner, closing one eye, while keeping the other one wide open.
“Fine. What do you want?”
“A trip to the desert.” Gypsy jumped off the bed and hopped on top of the bedstand, staring out the window. “You see that purple rock formation out there?” She pointed with her paw. “I have always wanted to see it.”
“Not funny, Gypsy,” Damian replied and lay down, folding his arms under his head. “You’re a house kitty. River will kick my ass if I take you outside.”
“Not the sharpest tool, are you?” asked the cat snidely. “If I ride on your shoulder, I don’t even have to touch the ground with my paws. As far as I’m concerned, that preserves my status of a house kitty.” She rolled her giant eyes and gave a few licks to her paw for good measure. “Sasquatch.”
“You got yourself a deal...” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Gypsy was still talking, but he couldn’t hear her anymore as his mind sank into blissful oblivion.
/> He woke up at around five o’clock, and since neither Cole nor River was home yet, he walked around the house, quickly surveying every corner. Everything was quiet and peaceful enough to relax, but just as he was going to go back to his room, he heard a soft knock on the front door.
A light wave of vampiric energy touched his senses, and he wrinkled his nose, smirking. Cole was projecting his presence from a mile away. But to be fair, unlike wizards or Children of the Elements, there wasn’t much vampires could do to conceal their energy from those who knew how to detect it.
Damian opened the door and observed his brother with interest. On top of his usual business suit, he wore a dark trench coat. It wasn’t thick, but it still looked strange considering it was five o’clock in the middle of an Arizona summer, and the temperature outside was pushing a hundred degrees. Besides, vampires weren’t sensitive to cold temperatures.
“Getting cold outside?” asked Damian, amused.
Cole snorted. “Did you want me to walk around with a sword in my hand?” he asked, pulling his trench coat open. A short sword was sheathed beneath his coat in a beautifully crafted leather scabbard.
“Can I see?” asked Damian, reaching for the weapon, but Cole pulled away, a mischievous grin splitting his face.
“I’m sure you have a blade, too. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” He winked, wrinkling his nose a little.
Damian threw a reproachful glance at him and waved for him to follow. “I see that in a thousand years you didn’t grow up much, did you?”
“Why should I? Adulting is no fun.”
They walked through the dark hallway of the right wing into Damian’s room and then out into the swimming pool area. There was enough space there to move, and Damian wasn’t worried that someone would walk into the foyer and see them armed with medieval style weaponry.
He extended his arms, and his daggers materialized in his hands. He spun them around, listening to the sound of the blades cutting through the air with a soft whistle, but made sure not to channel his magic through them.
