Chapter 16
When I got home, I threw a frozen macaroni and cheese dinner into the microwave, then sat down to load pistol mags with silver filled rounds. I was hungry, but not as bad as the last few days. Maybe Dr. Singh was right and my metabolism would slow from its current crazy pace. Thinking of the doctor reminded me of the Hance protein image that I had folded in my jacket pocket. It only took a moment or two to scan it into my laptop and then fire off an email to the doctor requesting his opinion of the molecule. That done I cracked a cold beer and started my homework.
The homicide files were enlightening. Roma had a point, as the amount and kind of damage the victims exhibited would have been very difficult for a standard human maniac to achieve. Some had been torn apart with obviously superhuman strength. Some had bite and tear wounds that were strongly indicative of large wild carnivores, in geographic locations that had no native examples of said carnivores. Tracks disappeared into thin air, doors and other human obstacles were breached with hands, not force and at least one attack occurred high up in an apartment building where the murderer came through a fourteenth floor window to rip out the victims' throat and a large portion of the blood supply was gone.
Taken together with the missing person and homicide statistics, the overall picture was fairly alarming. The human race had its own predators, just as folklore and mythology had faithfully reported all along. Only today's enlightened world ignored the fact that we weren't top of the food chain.
I had a lot to think about as I ate the entire family-sized mac and cheese. I really only had regular contact with Tanya and Lydia. My experience with other vampires had been meager. I kept Roma's lesson in mind as I got ready to visit the Demidova residence. My new Glock went on my hip, a twenty round mag in place and one round chambered. Two more twenty rounders went in the mag holder on my belt, and after a moment’s hesitation, I slipped a thirty-three rounder into the inside document pocket of my leather jacket. Wearing jeans and a long sleeve black tee, I hopped into the Xterra and headed out.
The night was cold and windy, the moon overhead almost full, as I trudged up the sidewalk to Galina's front door. The dead, dry leaves swirled around the street, each gust causing me to bring my Sight to bear, looking for a green, red, purple image. I rang the bell and waited, wondering at the truly strange nature of my life as I waited to see the vampire girl I was still infatuated with. After a minute, the door opened to reveal the blonde Nika. Not saying a word, she slid back out of the doorway, her expression blank. She was wearing a rather formal gown of soft yellow. I tried to keep my thoughts bland as I entered the brightly lit mansion. Classical music played on hidden speakers and the air was scented heavily by the numerous floral arrangements spread throughout the front foyer and formal living room. A dozen or so formally attired vampires were present, standing in eerie stillness, staring at me. There was nothing remotely human or friendly on those pale frozen faces and I felt like a bug looking up as the giant shoe descends. A small, spiky haired form in a black lace trimmed top and matching black tights blurred down the stairs and right up to me. “Chris, come on. I'll take you to her.” Lydia said in a quiet voice. But as we turned to the stairs, a tall lean form floated into our path, effectively blocking the route. Movie star handsome, in a pale, severe sort of way, he was wearing a charcoal gray suit of expensive cut. The word dapper popped into my head as I watched him approach, a cold smile on his face.
“Lydia, introduce me to your friend,” he commanded. “I have so wanted to meet Tanya's human pet.”
“Quickly then, Anton. She really needs to see him now.” Lydia replied.
“Oh, we wouldn't want to hold up my darling daughter now, would we?” he said, his pale blue eyes never leaving mine.
“Christian, this is Anton, Tanya's father.” Lydia said.
Of course, my life being what it is, my first time meeting a girlfriend's father and he had to be a two hundred-and-seventy-five-year-old vampire.
“Sir,” I said. He said nothing, but continued to stare directly into my eyes. I sensed small flutters of movement around us, as the others moved a little closer. Finally he spoke.
“So much emotion over so little of value,” he said.
A redheaded female, gowned in white, moved closer, speaking as she came, her voice sultry and teasing. “Oh, I don't know, Anton. He looks and smells rather delicious. Quite a 'treat', don't you think?”
He laughed. “And what would be the trick, my dear?”
“Why, getting up the stairs, my Lord,” she said.
“So, no trick at all then, huh Akilina?” said a cold, familiar voice from the top of the stairs.
Wearing torn jeans and my gray sweatshirt, looking tired and worn, with dark bruised circles under her eyes, she still outshone every vampire present. The redhead, Akilina, looked scared. Anton smoothly covered his own small start, which I had only seen because our eyes had remained locked throughout the whole discussion. “Ah my darling daughter, you have decided to honor us with your presence.”
“Actually, Anton, I am honoring you by letting you stand so close to my sputnik jizni. And, of course, only my sister, Lydia, is allowed to touch him.” Her voice carried the chill of death.
The creeping vampires that had frozen at her first words, were suddenly as far from me as possible, and Akilina fled in a swirl of white ruffles, leaving only Anton standing very still.
“Chris, would you please come up?” she asked in much warmer tones. I didn't need a second invitation.
Once upstairs, we traveled back down the hall I had run through two nights previous, giving me a chance to notice detail. A series of portraits lined the hall, each of Galina clothed in the fashions of a different period of time. Several had a Russian feel to them and the last four were more American. The final portrait was of Senka, Galina and a young Tatiana. I paused a moment to study it, my companions stopping instantly as well. “What is a sputnik jizni?” I asked as I looked at the detail of the painting. Lydia answered. “It translates as 'satellite life' and would mean something like the western concept of Soul Mate, although it is more serious, especially among vampires.”
“Oh.” was all I could think to say. We continued to the door to Tatiana's suite and Lydia turned off to a separate room, with a parting comment, “Play nice, you two.”
Tatiana led me to her room and stood with her back to me while I closed the large double doors. She turned slowly, clenching both hands together, her posture much less certain than the girl who had just dominated a room full of deadly older vampires.
“Christian....I have made a grave mistake. When ..when I spoke to you here the other night, I was telling you falsehoods. My mother and Anton convinced me that you were better off without me around you, telling me that the assassin that attacked you was sent by the weres of the city. Our coven has not always had a smooth relationship with the weres.” She paused, her eyes bright with tears. “I believed them and so I told you those things; things I never, ever meant. Things I could never mean. I know you believed me then and I don't expect you to forgive me, but I had to tell you, face to face, here where it...happened.” Tears were streaming down her face and a small part of me was startled that she could cry real tears. The rest of me was a real mess. On the drive to her house, I had given myself a stern pep talk. I would be solid, I would not cave. Whata load of crap! Faced with her tears, I was helpless. I took two fast steps forward and wrapped her in my arms, not able to speak. She went rigid for a moment, then relaxed into my chest. After a moment, I found my voice.