“They’re capable of influencing us with their energy. My sources tell me that you managed to lie to him, and that is an impressive feat. Under a Filguri’s touch, even the likes of us can only withstand his wishes for a short period of time. His touch can be haunting and downright creepy, if that is his intention,” Nikelaus explained.
Yay for information! The alcohol and my elation that I had finally gotten someone to tell me stuff made me forget that I was a hostage here. “Tell me about it!” I said.
“He touched you and you still lied to him?”
“Yes, when he interrogated me. I could feel his energy everywhere in my body. When I finally managed to push it out, I was utterly exhausted.” Uh, oh, their looks didn’t bode well. The Peris looked at me the same way Michael and his friends had when we met for the second time, after I had lifted the ban from Jeremeia. I rose with a jerk. The alcohol made my movements unsteady, and I stumbled over my own feet. Nikelaus caught me before I fell. “Why so frantic all of a sudden? Don’t you want to hear what else they’re capable of?”
I slurred when I spoke, pointing my finger at him and declaring: “You’re good. You know exactly how to take advantage of my weaknesses.” I had no idea what was happening, but now I was sitting next to him.
“They’re very old, and so is their particular brand of magic. They’re among the most powerful magi in existence. They can send out a kind of energy flash, and move things with their thoughts. A lot of people are of the opinion that their total extinction would be advantageous,” he told me.
His keys were within reach. I leaned on my elbows and gave him a look that said, ‘Tell me more.’ His key was now between my elbows. He liked my innocent curiosity, my apparent trustfulness, and went on: “There were three Filguri until about thirty years ago. Michael and I saw Verano die. Trust me, those guys don’t go down without a bang!”
Josef had refilled the Peris’ glasses several times. He’d poured me another half glass and persuaded me to drink. I didn’t dare grab the key without first staging a distraction. I ramped up my energy, and as I’d suspected, that garnered me their full attention. Nikelaus put an arm around me and the others scooted closer. While they were focused on what I exuded, I let my hands slam down on the table, palms flat. My left hand was on top of the keys now. I sat up straight, attempted a look of confusion and innocence, and then pulled back my hands – and the car keys. That was the moment Sem entered the room. He took in the situation, raising an appreciative eyebrow at the sight of Nikelaus’ arm around my shoulder. He smiled. I decided to ask more nosey questions to remain in character: “Can vampires survive in direct sunlight? What are their weaknesses?”
Nikelaus shook his head. “So hungry for knowledge. It’s getting late; you should go to bed.”
“Why? It’s not as if I have any plans for tomorrow.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’re planning another escape attempt.”
“You bet I am.”
“At least after today’s shenanigans I know that you really cannot leave the house.”
I didn’t take the bait, but repeated my earlier question: “So can vampires survive in direct sunlight?”
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow. My friends and I are slowly beginning to feel the effect of the Incendium. I think it will be safer for you to return to your room, as vulnerable and happy as you are.”
“Happy is a bit of an exaggeration. I might be a little less afraid though …” He shook his head and took my hand, leading me out into the hallway. I didn’t want to be alone with him. “Thank you, but I can walk by myself.” I was surprised that he actually heeded me request and returned to the kitchen. I stumbled up the stairs, but after I’d slipped for the third time, Nikelaus appeared by my side and helped me. When we’d reached the top of the stairs, I looked back. Sem was watching us. He followed our every move. Back in my room, Nikelaus made me sit on the bed.
“Thank you, Nikelaus, I can take it from here.” He studied me for a while, stroked my cheek and then kissed me. There it was again, my fear of what might happen, gripping me in a choke-hold. This time he was tender and allowed me to pull away. I scooted backwards on the bed and tucked up my legs.
He stayed where he was, frozen by the edge of the bed. “Did you make it as difficult for Michael?” He sounded a little tipsy.
“You claimed that you were not interested in me sexually, remember? If you want to brainwash me, you should stick to your story,” I replied.
“What I said was that I don’t intend to make you my sex slave, not that I’m not interested in you. But the more important point is that it still isn’t my goal to manipulate you.” He stood there for a long time without taking his penetrating eyes off me. When he finally spoke again, it came as a relief: “I’d really like to know what you are. You exhibit some traits of one species, but others point to another. I simply can’t place you.”
“Maybe I’m a mix of several?”
“That is impossible. There has never been a child from such a union. It’s interesting that all supernatural species can only procreate with their own kind, or with humans.”
“You know it’s not going to work.”
“What isn’t?”
“Turning me against Michael.”
I spied Sem standing in the open doorway. Nikelaus turned around, and Sem did the usual hand motion that served to camouflage their exchange. They didn’t know I could still hear them. “She’s only been here for two or three days. She’ll forget him if you give her time,” Sem ventured.
“I’m not so sure that she really will. She’s so straightforward, so faithful. How could I let him get to her first?”
“You could hardly have jumped up to follow her and leave your business partner sitting there. What could you have done?”
“I developed a spell, based on the same magic that secures the house. I’ll be able to manipulate her with the help of that. Once I’m sober again, I’m going to make her my own. Michael thinks that she’s immune to magic. He won’t question her decision to stay with me.”
“You can win her without magic, though that might take a few months. You should give her the time she needs, because then her feelings would be genuine, and her energy pure.”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” The last thing I heard was Sem’s laugh.
I was running out of time. I would have to escape that night, no more caution and second-guessing. After carefully weighing my options, my plan was hatched: I waited for two long hours, before I crept to the landing to eavesdrop. The Peris were loud and boisterous, joking, laughing, yelling. That was my chance. I still felt drunk, but was able to walk without stumbling. I crept down the stairs and slipped into the garage. The nabbed key belonged to an Audi that came with a built-in GPS. Sometimes you just had to be lucky.
I used a monkey wrench to damage the tires of the other cars. I opened the door to the Audi in slow motion, then got in slowly and noiselessly, buckled up. I fervently hoped that I was really immune to Nikelaus’ magic, for if I wasn’t, I would be hitting a concrete-like barrier once I stepped on the gas, instead of smashing through the closed garage door. I started the engine, pulled the door of the car shut, and my foot was already on the gas. The car shot through the door. As soon as I’d left the estate, I activated the GPS. One would think that my hyped-up tension would make me clumsy, but the opposite was the case. I had entered my destination within seconds. I drove as fast as possible without losing control of the car. I took the freeway exit close to Europark. From there, I knew how to get to Michael’s house. I was going much too fast when I turned into the narrow street that led through his garden, and I didn’t stop until I was directly in front of his door. I jumped out and stormed into the house, not bothering to turn the key and kill the engine. My noisy entrance brought out all the Peris present. I was surprised by their number.
Michael gave me a look of confusion. “Melanie? We were just about to come to your rescue.” He seemed flabbergasted. I had hoped
he would be thrilled and grateful to see me.
“Well, I rescued myself. Is there a problem with that?” When I still didn’t get the expected reaction, I got angry. “Hell, what do you want me to do? Go back and slip into his house so you can come and save me?” Was he really considering that as an option? His expression was giving me the feeling that he was. I glared at him and he shook his head, shook himself out of whatever train of thought he’d been entertaining. “No, of course not.” He came over and wanted to pull me into an embrace. Too late, I was fed up with him. Miffed by his behavior, I ran into my den and locked myself in.
15 THOMAS
I heard several people leave the house. A few moments later, there came a knock on my door. I didn’t answer.
“Please don’t be childish. Open the door!”
“I’m only twenty-three; I’m allowed to be childish once in a while. I don’t want to see you!”
“Melanie, please!”
“Go away!” There was a rattle and a clank as the door was taken off its hinges and leaned against the hallway wall. His strength was unfair. If my boyfriend had been human, he’d have needed a locksmith to open this door.
He gave me an apologetic look, came over and hugged me. “I’m glad to have you back.”
I pushed him away. “That’s not even true. I can see it in your posture.”
“You’re misunderstanding me. If you had stayed just half an hour longer, I would have come and brought you home.”
“So you didn’t get a chance to play the hero, how terrible!”
“I could have taken revenge. I would have had free rein for payback. Now I will have to let him get away with it. I don’t have any proof that he kidnapped you.”
“But I could attest to it.” I didn’t understand what his problem was. He rolled his eyes, as if I was overlooking the obvious. “Melanie, it would be your word against his.”
“And my word doesn’t count,” I concluded with my eyes closed. When I opened them again, his expression was apologetic. He reached out and took me by my arm, wanting to pull me closer despite my unwillingness. He put his hand around the spot where Nikelaus had cut me. The sharp sting made me scream, and the lazily treated cut started bleeding again. Confused by my reaction, he let go of me. When he saw the blood in my palm, his gaze asked me what it meant. “Michael, how do you think he got my blood for the werewolf show?”
He didn’t say anything, but took off the flimsy, blood-drenched bandage, left the room swearing under his breath, and returned with a first-aid kit. “The wound is deep; it should have been sutured. You will have a large scar.”
What was wrong with him? He hadn’t asked what had happened, how I was feeling, let alone tried to comfort me. As soon as he was done dressing my wound, I got up, grabbed my wallet and phone from the desk, and put a few items of clothing in my small backpack. Michael watched me, looking bewildered. I was still dressed in the clothes his uncle had given me. I ignored him and began to change into a shirt and pants of my own. When I had taken off the shirt, he narrowed his eyes at my upper arms. I noticed the bruises Nikelaus had left when he’d tried to force himself on me.
I felt better in my own clothes. I grabbed the backpack and started down the stairs. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, still mostly perplexed by my behavior, but then he intercepted me and put his hands on my cheeks. “How do you feel? Are you okay?”
“Bit late to be asking that question, don’t you think? I’m so sick of you supernaturals and the way you are treating me. I’m going home. I don’t want to see you for a few days, nor any other Peri.”
Michael seemed to be getting angry. “Are you insane? Your apartment is still uninhabitable. Your friend was mauled by a werewolf in there only a few days ago. You’re staying here.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m not talking about the apartment, but about the house I grew up in.”
“You’re staying here!” He had used his boss voice on me, and now he was blocking my exit. I tried to step past him, but he towered over me. “For the last time, Melanie, you’re staying here!”
I was not his property. “Stop talking to me in your ‘I’m the boss here’ voice. I’m not your employee or whatever. Now let me pass!”
He had reached the end of his patience. He picked me up and carried me into our bedroom. “Melanie, please tell me what happened in Nikelaus’ house.”
I shook my head, offended. I wasn’t in the mood for a chat. He leaned forward and tried to kiss me, but I wouldn’t let him. I turned away, lay down in bed, and didn’t react anymore for the rest of the night. I simply lay there, motionless and still, deciding I would stake out possible routes of escape from Michael’s house the next day. Maybe Nikelaus hadn’t been so wrong in his assessment after all. And if I hadn’t escaped on my own, Michael could have revoked his privileges. That was what he had told me. Had that been Michael’s plan all along? It couldn’t hurt to ask him. When he entered the room the following morning, I sat up. “Michael?” He sat down next to me, relieved that I was speaking to him at all. “Yes?”
“Did you plan the whole thing?”
“What do you mean?”
“Nikelaus mentioned that he enjoys certain privileges. If you had caught him red-handed, you could have revoked them. You wouldn’t do that to me, would you?”
He gave me a questioning look. “You think that I planned Nikelaus’ abduction of you, so I could rescue you and revoke his privileges?” When he said it, the scenario sounded preposterous.
“It was just a thought.”
“How was I supposed to do that? Write him a letter and suggest he should fake your death? What do you take me for?”
Once again, he had turned the tables on me, and now he was offended. Not this time, buster! “How did you know that I am still alive?”
“He made a few mistakes.”
“What mistakes?”
“Never mind. Melanie, stop treating me like a cheap thug!”
I pouted and turned away.
“You went through a lot, but that’s no reason to speak to me like this.”
I wouldn’t relent. “You weren’t exactly thrilled to see me.”
“You know what? Believe what you want and do as you please,” he shot back, sounding huffy. Do as I please? Oh yes, I would do as I pleased! I rose and picked up my backpack, heading downstairs. This time he did not hold me back. When I reached the front door, Stefan blocked my exit. “You’re staying here!”
“Let her go!” Michael barked. He’d followed me.
Michael and Stefan argued back and forth, while I felt a creeping chill come over me. “Guys? Do you feel that, too?” They were locked in a heated discussion and didn’t react, so I repeated more loudly: “Hey, guys!” This time they paused. “What?” they hissed in unison.
“Don’t you feel that? Something is coming.” They both shook their heads, brought up short. One moment later, there was a knock on the door. I went to stand behind Stefan, hiding. Before Michael opened the door, he threw me a worried glance.
“To what do I owe this honor?” He asked the visitors politely. I peeked past Stefan to find out who they were. For the love of God, when would this nightmare be over? Nikelaus was standing there with Michael’s father Martellius. The guy really had the guts to show up here? Why had he brought Martellius?
“I suggest we discuss the matter in the kitchen.”
“As you wish, father. Melanie, go upstairs,” Michael said.
Nikelaus was suspiciously smug. He gave me a triumphant smile. “Maybe she had better join us.”
Michael disliked the suggestion as much as I did. He nodded for me to follow them and led our guests into the kitchen. On the way there, Nikelaus touched my hand in passing, and Stefan reacted by stepping in between us as if by accident. Once we were all seated around the kitchen table, Nikelaus launched into his spiel: “Nephew, I’m terribly sorry to bother you with a matter like this, because I know you have far more pressing
things to take care of, but your human broke into my garage last night. She stole one of my cars, damaged the others, and destroyed the garage door.”
“Son, I offered to pay for the damage inflicted, but your uncle feels that this constitutes an insult to his honor. He doesn’t accept a financial solution.”
My jaw dropped. The nerve of him! Nikelaus watched me closely, which Michael registered with a frown. “Uncle, what is your idea of an adequate compensation?”
“I want her.”
“She’s mine. I will recompense you generously.”
“This is not about money, but maybe we can find a compromise. How about you relinquish her for just a few months?”
Michael fixed his stare on Nikelaus, while he asked formally: “Melanie, do you want to live with Nikelaus for a few months?”
“No!” I replied promptly. Even though I had fought with Michael only minutes before, I trusted him to protect me from Nikelaus. I didn’t feel scared.
“Uncle, what do you think an unhappy human could give you?” Michael asked patiently.
“I know she can turn it on and off at will.”
Michael threw me a disapproving glance. He didn’t understand why I had told Nikelaus. I shrugged my shoulders and felt sheepish. “He wanted to take my energy by force. I felt more comfortable giving it to him.”
“You’re not getting her even for a single day. The damage can easily be redressed with money, so money will be my compensation. Unless you want to challenge me, that is. Feel free to do so,” my boyfriend said in a voice that was determined and unequivocal. Nikelaus’ expression betrayed shock. Martellius and Stefan seemed surprised as well.
“I wasn’t aware of how precious she is to you. If that is the case, I will accept financial compensation. I will send you the bill.”
Michael nodded his okay. “I’m glad we were able to come to an understanding.” He turned to Stefan. “Take her upstairs. I want to discuss something else.”
Once Stefan shut the door to the bedroom behind us, I asked: “What does that mean, ‘challenge’ someone?” He camouflaged our conversation before he spoke. “It’s an ancient tradition and a sort of fight. When our honor is wounded, it’s a way of finding satisfaction. Normally we avoid this route, because a fight like that can end in death.”
Peris Night: Terakon (Secret Language) Page 19
