She took another sip, while I processed that bit of information.
“Once Lydia had calmed her down and promised to check on the cause of her worry, I was able to learn the whole rather sad tale.’ She continued. “Fairly tragic some might call it. Personally, I find it to be idiocy of a monumental level. It seems that some persons of influence prevailed upon Tatiana that the best method of protecting her beloved police officer, would be to drive him away. Make him believe she had fallen out of love with him. Preposterous, really. Only someone completely ignorant of vampire psychology would fall for that. I have since expressed my displeasure, rather forcibly with both Galina and Anton at this extremely inopportune action on their parts. But then Lydia comes home, reassures Tatiana and tells us of an encounter with something unheard of. Perhaps you could tell me its name, just in case I heard it wrong from Lydia?” she asked.
I cleared my throat and said, “The Hellbourne called it a Damnedthing.”
“And Hellbourne is your rather quaint term for one of the walking demons?” she asked.
I frowned at her sardonic attitude, ready to speak, possibly my last words, but she waved her hand languidly and laughed.
“Oh please do not think I am amusing myself at your expense, Mr. Gordon. I have nothing but admiration for you. I would have found you admirable for nothing other than your actions in Plasma last Friday. But you continue again and again to put yourself in harm’s way for Tatiana and Lydia. And then there are all the other fascinating details, like your improbable time and date of birth. And even the way the tragic death of your family corresponds to Tatiana’s own pivotal past. One might almost think you two were linked by fate. Your physiological response to vampire blood, at least Tatiana’s, is almost without precedent.”
She looked down at her tea, releasing me from her gaze and I glanced around us to see if we were still going unnoticed. I almost missed it, but a short, rather rotund fellow who was walking by, turned slightly toward the street and I spotted a wyrm riding his shoulders.
Glancing back at Senka showed me that she had still not looked up, so I took a quick chance and flicked my right hand in the wyrms direction. I have developed a technique I think of as the Aura whip. Imagining my aura to be tapered and coiled like a bull whip, I snap it at a demon or in this case a wyrm. It worked perfectly, neatly snapping the foul thing in half and instantly freeing the round guy from its grip. He began to straighten up from his hunched posture almost immediately.
I turned back to Senka, only to find myself busted. Her eyes were bright with amazement and I had the uncomfortable feeling that she had seen everything.
“Wonderful, exactly the kind of thing the girls have been going on and on about. To see your very special abilities in action, extraordinary,” She said.
“Er, I have a sort of personal vow not to let any of them get away. Did you…were you able to actually see that?” I asked.
“Oh yes, Christian. Do you mind if I call you Christian. I feel as if I know you already. The girls have done a remarkable job of describing you. But anyway, the answer is yes. I can see your aura and I could see the thing on the man’s shoulder. What do you call that one?” she asked.
“Ah..I call those things wyrms…with a ‘Y’,” I answered.
She nodded then continued.
“You know I was so excited when Tatiana woke up, as you see, one of my abilities is to foresee people’s potential. And I’ve always known that Tatiana would achieve great things. But then Lydia told me that you were Tatiana’s match in potential. I could scarcely believe such a thing despite the enormous value I place on Lydia’s opinion. But that girl was right again. Ah Lydia. I consider her one of the best I’ve ever created. If I could clone that girl, I would make one of her for every day of the week!”
I shuddered as I thought of dealing with seven more Lydias. She laughed at my response.
“That is a rather intimidating thought, is it not?”
“Well, Ma’am, it’s been all I could do to handle just the one.”
“Oh yes, and you have been very put out with Lydia, have you not?” she asked.
I frowned as I thought of how far I had gone in believing in Tatiana’s interest in me.
“But wait, I thought Galina Turned Lydia?” I asked as my brain caught up with part of her comments.
“Oh, she did….at my insistence, and I gave Lydia a little dose of my blood at the end of the process, as a boost. Galina doesn’t know that detail though.
“So, you saw potential in Lydia and assured it came to fruition?” I asked.
“Something like that. And now I have to agree with Lydia. You and Tatiana are a matched set. Complementary, but not identical. You balance each other; bring out the best traits in each other. This changes the dynamic completely.”
“Er….what dynamic?”
“Have you wondered why all the vampires treat Tatiana so differentially? Even us Elders. It’s because of what we believe she will grow into. At twenty-three she is the equal of vampires that are seven or even eight hundred years old. She’s changing and growing so rapidly that we can’t begin to predict her powers and abilities. But everyone has always based that on just her. Everyone is jockeying to have influence over her. Now you’re in the picture. Her mirror, the Yang to her Yin. And your influence over her is greatest of all. Can you see why Galina and Anton tried such a stupid attempt to get her to leave you? Like that would have worked! Not to mention the attempt on your life. Tatiana’s first true kill was to protect you. That little detail has been noticed.
Your own abilities and potential are great and equally hard to predict. And that is just starting to be noticed. That vampire you threw across the room last night? Without touching? He hasn’t been a vampire since you did that. Reverted to human. Dr. Singh believes it to be only temporary, and I agree, but still. To completely remove a vampire’s powers with a flick of your hand. He was one of mine, by the way, and none of the other vampires other than Tatiana and Lydia and the Doctor know that detail. We’re keeping it our little secret.”
She studied me.
“And I notice a tiny little micro flinch whenever I mention Tatiana’s name. There it was again.” I continued to frown, very uncomfortable with her ability to read me.
“And you continue to believe that Tatiana has, how was it phrased? Grown beyond you?”
She watched my response and nodded. “Yes, I can see you do. What can I do to convince you?”
“I suspect you can make me think anything you want with that little Jedi mind trick you have going on.” I said, waving at the people passing us blindly.
Her eyes widened again and she smiled, revealing just a little bit of fang.
“Oh, you are perceptive! Lydia was right again! Except about how you view yourself and Tatiana. Hmm.” she tapped her bottom lip thoughtfully.
“Well, Christian, I need to be going. Things to do, people to correct. But it has been my very great pleasure to meet you and I will daresay that I hope to see you tomorrow night at Tatiana’s and your birthday party.”
She again read my expression. “Oh please, you really must come. Tatiana will be crushed if you don’t. Ah yes, I know you don’t believe me, but what if the demon that escaped last night shows up? Who will protect her? My power doesn’t pierce demon cloaks.”
I sighed in resignation. “I’ll be there.”
“Excellent! Now I must be going.”
A huge black BMW limo pulled up to the curb as if summoned by telepathy.