Hello readers! Episode 13 really inspired me to get writing again, so here is the next update.
Thanks to everyone who commented on my last chapter. You guys' words always make me feel so happy. I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. Really, thank you.
Only one note with this chapter. (yay!) Josef's name: When dealing with humans and business and the mortal world, Josef uses the name 'Kostan.' But vampires know him by his true name 'Konstantin.'
Please forgive any typos. It's late as I post this, so I'll go through it again to look for typos tomorrow. I'm sure I've missed some.
Enjoy. : D
Enemy From the Past
Beth woke alone, around 3:30pm. She blinked, missing the feeling of Mick's body cuddled against her, as it usually was when she woke every evening. She wondered for a moment where he was, what had called him from their freezer early, before she remembered how he had told her about a client coming by for a late afternoon appointment. Beth strained her ears, and could just barely pick up the murmuring of voices coming from Mick's office downstairs. Yup, Mick's with a client… She sighed and rolled over, not quite ready to face the day.
Tonight she had to go into Buzzwire for at least a few hours. She needed to wrap up a few loose ends of a story she had been covering for the past week or two. Mo had had her investigating a local drug smuggling ring and Beth had uncovered quite a bit on them. Mo had been thrilled with the dirt her ace reporter had managed to dig up. Now her boss wanted Beth to come in and give her last live report on the story.
Beth's work hours had shifted since she had become a vampire. As a human she had arrived at Buzzwire anywhere from early to mid-morning, but now, as a vampire, she usually didn't come in until around 5:00pm. She usually stayed till midnight, or later, before the night janitor crew reached the news floor. Of course, on evenings when there was a hot story to cover, the offices were buzzing with activity all night long. The hours worked well for Beth. She still slept most of the day, and at five o'clock, the setting sun wasn't too harsh heading to work.
Mo hadn't liked her new schedule at first, but she had come around. Beth had told her she could call her at any time during the night if a story came up—Beth believed that offer was what finally convinced Mo to accept her new hours. Crime happened mostly at night—Beth remembered from her days as a human having to drag herself out of bed on more than one occasion to go cover some grisly crime scene at two or three in the morning. But now that Maureen knew Beth was already awake, she had quickly made Beth her go-to reporter for breaking late night stories. It was a situation everyone loved—Beth, because it let her work the hours she wanted, Mo, because she didn't have to deal with tired, grumpy reporters, and the other reporters at Buzzwire, because they didn't have to get out of bed and go cover a murder at three in the morning.
Deciding that she had lounged long enough, Beth finally sat up, pushing open her half of the lid of the doublewide freezer she shared with her husband. She stretched her sore muscles, reluctant to leave the soothing air of her ice bed. Since her first fencing match with Josef two weeks ago, she had been returning to her sire's home a few nights a week for more lessons. Impressed that Beth was serious about mastering the skill, Josef was taking the time to teach her properly—which translated, meant drills. They practiced two hours every night, and the first hour and a half was spent only on drills—lunges and other basic fencing moves.
For the last half hour Josef would fence Beth. He used their matches as an opportunity to help hone Beth's vampiric speed and dexterity. It was quite the workout, trying to keep pace and defend herself from his attacks. Josef didn't handicap himself in any way, didn't hold anything back and Beth's muscles were stiff and aching as she burned them into better shape from struggling to maintain a proper defense. If she thought she had been fit before…She tumbled into the freezer after coming home each night, satisfied with her progress, but exhausted.
She could tell that Josef was enjoying himself as much as she was, if not more since he had already mastered the skill. Even though he grumbled over her mistakes, telling her she was hopeless, Beth sensed he was secretly glad to share this part of himself with his fledgling. As her sire, while Josef didn't need to see Beth the way Beth needed to see him, he was still bonded to her and his attachment to her was quite strong—strong enough that oftentimes they felt echoes of each other's emotions. It had been unsettling at first, but as time passed the intensity of that aspect of their bond was fading. When Beth had asked Josef about why it was weakening, he had told her it was because she was 'growing up,'—maturing as a vampire. He had said from now on, it would most likely be rare that Beth and he would share emotions through the sire/fledgling bond. He treated it as part of normal fledgling development, and had seemed pleased that Beth was on track, but deep down Beth had felt a little sad at losing the connection. It had made her feel closer to her sire.
Well, tonight she would be able to look forward to seeing Josef after work, for another fencing lesson. Maybe I'll ask Mick if he wants to come with me…She didn't want Mick to feel neglected from all the time she was spending out at Josef's. Mick had been busy with a case all this week, but last night he had wrapped it up—he was delivering his results to the client in his office right now. Thinking that she would ask him about joining her tonight, Beth climbed out of the freezer, and stretched for a moment, before heading off to the shower.
Half and hour later found Beth showered and dressed for the evening. She made her way downstairs to the kitchen for some breakfast. The door to Mick's office was slightly ajar, and she could hear him concluding business with his client.
"…I'm sorry what I've got for you isn't to your liking Mr. Colt, but you hired me to watch your wife, and this is what I found."
Beth could easily hear the anger in the client's voice, smell his outrage. Mick must have ousted an affair. Mr. Colt cursed his wife under his breath, unaware that Mick (and Beth) could hear with perfect clarity every word he said. Beth could make out the scratching of a pen on paper, and knew Mr. Colt must be writing Mick a check for her husband's services. A moment later she heard both men rise, and the office door open and shut as Mr. Colt's footsteps faded down the hall.
As Beth poured herself a glass of fresh blood, Mick sauntered into the kitchen. She smiled at him over the rim of her glass, and asked, "Another affair?" She took a sip of the O positive (her favorite flavor) and felt the rush of blood hit her system. She knew her eyes had bled to a deep red color. Sometimes Beth found her life surreal. I can't believe I'm enjoying a glass of blood…Who'd have ever seen this coming five years ago? Beth smirked to herself at the thought. She certainly would have laughed at the suggestion of vampires back then, but so much had changed in the past few years. She had found the love of her life—and he just happened to be a vampire.
Mick pulled her into his arms, chuckling. "Actually, no. The husband wanted me to find evidence of an affair so he could file for a divorce and take half of everything. Apparently he's married to an extremely wealthy, but very annoying, yet entirely faithful woman."
"Sucks to be him, huh?" Beth grinned and Mick's eyes sparkled. He released Beth to open the hidden fridge and pull out a packet of A positive.
Beth watched him pour about half the bag into a glass. Mick was still drinking morgue blood, although (much to Josef's glee) Beth had launched a campaign to get him back to drinking fresh. Slowly but surely she believed she was convincing him. At least, he had stopped outright flat refusal of the idea, something that Josef told her was a big step, and certainly more than he had been able to accomplish in thirty years. Beth was determined to get Mick off of the morgue blood. Drinking it every now and then wasn't a big deal, but Beth believed that continuously digesting it was unhealthy.
Josef had taught her not to be ashamed of her cravings for fresh human blood. He said there was absolutely nothing wrong with a vampire biting a human directly as long as they kept control, and Beth tended to agree. She embraced her inner vampiress. The rush she experienced during feedings where Josef provided her with male freshies was incredible. The blood tasted rich and delicious, flavored with the emotions of the donor. Out of respect for Mick, Beth didn't drink from her male donors when he was around, but Josef kept a few at his house for her, and they sent her freshly bottled blood for her to drink. Beth could hardly stand the taste of Mick's morgue supply. She couldn't understand how Mick had kept drinking it all this time.
Mick took a sip, and Beth thought she might have seen a little grimace cross his face. He certainly couldn't be enjoying the blood. Beth has a feeling one of these days Mick would cave and switch back over to fresh. She was drawn from her hopes by Mick's voice.
"So, do you have another lesson with Josef tonight?" There was something in his voice. With a start, Beth realized what it was—the faintest traces of jealously. He definitely needs to come with me...
She answered, keeping her voice neutral, not wanting Mick to know that she had sensed his envy, "Yeah. I'm going out to the mansion after work." She stepped in and wrapped her arms around Mick. She leaned her head on his chest, then tilted her face up and asked, "I was hoping you might want to come with me?"
Mick's smile told her that she had done the right thing in asking him to join her. When he responded there was no longer any trace of jealousy in his voice. "I'd love to tag along with you, Beth. Although, don't expect me to do any fencing."
Beth gave a small laugh, "Wouldn't dream of it." She cupped his cheek with her hand. She was still in his arms, leaning against his chest. "I'll come back here after work then, and we can head out together."
"Sounds great." Mick leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips, before he let her go. "Have a good day at work, baby."
Beth blew him a kiss as she walked out the door, snatching her USB drive on the way out.
Josef woke up. It was twilight and he was hungry. He wanted breakfast. He pushed open the lid to his sleek, black freezer and sat up. He stretched lazily; yawning and baring his fangs, back muscles rippling. Should one of his freshies have been watching him now she would have thought his movements smooth and cat-like—A panther preparing for the day's hunt.
Easily pulling himself out of his freezer, he padded across his room to where his sky blue lounge pants were draped over a wooden hook hanging off the wall. His freezer room walls were of dark cherry wood, and underneath his feet was a deep blue—so dark blue it was nearly black—plush carpet. In the center of his room was his freezer, opaque for privacy, large enough to fit several people inside. A genuine Monet hung on one of the room walls. Unlike Mick and Beth, Josef didn't see the appeal of sleeping in a stainless steel room. That style was too modern for him; he preferred a warmer, more comforting atmosphere.
He pulled on his satin pajama bottoms, enjoying the feeling of the smooth material across his skin. He crossed his room, stepping through a door and into his master bedroom. This room was also paneled with dark wood, a dark cream-colored carpet upon the floor. He pulled on a silk dressing robe and headed downstairs to search out one of his girls.
He found Mona idly flicking through a magazine on the sofa in his living room. "Good evening, darling." His eyes were frosted blue. He could hear her heart beating, smell the rich blood in her veins.
Mona was one of his more experienced freshies. She was also one of his more beautiful. The last rays of the setting sun fell upon her face, highlighting her long, dark hair. She was dark-skinned, dark-eyed. Exotic. Upon hearing his greeting she turned to give him her full attention, setting the magazine aside. Her eyes smiled warmly up at him. "Hungry, Josef?"
"Famished." Josef said with a devilish smile, and sat down, pulling Mona onto his lap. He heard her heartbeat quicken and saw the rush of blood to her cheeks. He could scent her arousal and desire in the air. Josef always made sure his freshies got their end of the deal when he fed from them. He looked after his girls.
He ran the back of his hand softly over Mona's neck, and she leaned into his touch. Josef brushed her hair aside, and Mona arched her neck towards him, inviting him in. In a moment, he had sunk his fangs into the soft skin of her neck, hitting her vein with expert precision. Her blood flowed, warm and spicy into his mouth, and down his throat. Mona gave a whimper of pleasure as his enthrallment swept over her. Her hands clutched at Josef's shoulder, twisting in the silky material of his robe.
When Josef was satisfied he pulled out, licking at the bite marks to close them, lapping at the few drops of blood that ran down Mona's neck. Mona sighed as she came down from the feeding high. She opened her eyes and smiled at Josef. "How did I taste?"
"Delicious as always, my dear." Josef deposited her gently back onto the sofa. "I didn't take too much, but you should rest for a while. I'll have one of the other girls bring you some orange juice."
"Thanks…" Mona curled up on the sofa, eyes drooping.
Josef turned to the door, intending to go upstairs to dress for work, when his cell phone rang. He pulled it out, glancing at the number. He didn't recognize it. That fact alone surprised him, and he felt a tendril of anxiety snake its way through his chest. Who could have gotten their hands on his private cell phone number?
Curious, he answered, his voice brisk and to the point, "Josef Kostan." Better to use my human name in case it's a human calling…
"Hello, Josef."
Josef stiffened at the voice. He could sense Mona behind him—he knew she had registered the sudden change in his body language. He could feel her eyes on him, and sense her worry. Mona already knew something was wrong.
"How did you get this number?" he breathed in an angry hiss. He began to pace back and forth.
The voice that answered him was just as he always remembered it to be, smug and superior, laced with condescending. "That's not your biggest concern right now. Do you know where I am, little brother?"
Josef felt his heart freeze. An icy feeling settled in his stomach. The oh-so-familiar voice continued to taunt him. "Take a look outside, Josef. Leave that beautiful woman who you were just feeding on for a minute and come see if you can catch me."
Josef came to a complete standstill in the center of the room. The voice continued, mocking him infuriatingly, "Oh yes, I can see you. Do you see me?"
Josef looked outside, and was startled to see a shadow at the foot of the hill that made up part of his property. There was no mistaking the tall silhouette, and the broad shoulders. "Lucius!" Josef shouted into the phone.
Over the line came Lucius's voice, "I shall be revenged Josef. I have waited, and now it's time for you to pay." Lucius's shadow vanished from sight.
Josef bolted outside, and began racing towards where the shadow had stood. His property reeked of the odor of Lucius's power—he was challenging Josef, the equivalent of a wolf marking its territory. Josef wouldn't stand for it. His vision was red with barely controlled rage.
He heard Lucius say over the phone, "This is going to be so much fun, little brother." The line went dead.
By the time Josef reached the spot where Lucius had stood, his enemy was long gone. Josef followed the path of the scent, racing after it, around the side of his home, heading towards his driveway. He heard a car screeching in the distance and put on an extra burst of speed, but he was too late. He reached the end of the drive only to see taillights flash around the corner at the far end of the street. Lucius had escaped him, Again. Not again. Josef thought with a crushing sense of helplessness.
He turned back to his house, deciding against immediate pursuit. Mona was standing in the doorframe, clutching at it to combat the dizziness from the blood loss. Her eyes were wide at the expression on Josef's face. "Josef? What is it? Who was that? Who's Lucius?" she questioned as he strode past her.
Josef snapped at her harder than he meant to, "Lucius is none of your business." Mona flinched, clearly startled and frightened by his tone. Josef had never spoken to her that way before. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, and Mona visibly relaxed somewhat. "I'm afraid you're going to have to leave the mansion for a while, darling. You and all the other girls." Josef remembered all too well the last time an unfriendly vampire had shown up on his doorstep. Damien Fay had been over a thousand years old, and had murdered all of his freshies. His girls had never stood a chance. Josef wasn't going to give Lucius the opportunity to repeat history. He had promised the girls he would protect them while under his services.
Mona's face was shocked. She struggled to keep pace with Josef as he strode through his home, looking for his head of security. "Leave? All of us? Why? How…how will you eat?"
Josef was touched that with everything that was happening she was worried about him. He waved a hand dismissively, "I'll survive, Mona. I'll ask you girls to donate before you leave for the safe house." He called out for his head of security—a vampire by the name of James Redmond.
"The safe house?" Mona's voice wavered. Her fear was starting to choke the air.
As James came racing up the hall to him, he turned to Mona. He said soothingly, "Don't be scared, darling. But understand that if you stay here, you'll be in danger. Only Jim and I know the location of the safe house—I don't want to have to worry about Lucius coming after you and the others."
"But who is Lucius? I don't understand."
Josef stopped his frantic stride, and turned Mona's face towards him, making sure she understood how serious he was. "Lucius is my oldest enemy, my dear, and he will not hesitate to kill those associated with me. But you don't have to be scared, Mona, all right? I'll look after you. Go, find the other girls, and tell them to wait for me downstairs in the living room. I'll speak to you all in a little while."
Josef turned to Redmond, as Mona moved off down the hallway to go find the other six or so girls who permanently lived at the mansion. Despite his reassurances that he would protect her, the freshie still gave off agitated vibes. She was still scared. Probably more at my behavior than what's going on, Josef thought with a sigh. He hadn't handled the situation very well, but Lucius's call had thrown him for a loop. James was watching him worriedly, wondering what was wrong.
Josef began to bark out orders for Redmond to secure the mansion and prepare to leave with the freshies. "Take all of security with you, I want those girls protected. No one gets to them."
"All of security? But sir, what about yourself?"
"I don't want anyone here at the house but me. This is personal. Do you understand?" Josef's eyes bore into Redmond's. His head of security could see glimpses of a dark anger boiling beneath the surface of the brown irises.
"Yes sir."
Josef dismissed James, and the vampire hastened off to start carrying out Josef's orders. Josef hurried upstairs to his room to dress. He would need to speak to the freshies downstairs first, reassure them that they wouldn't be in any danger and that their absence was only temporary until he sorted this out. And Beth…I need to call Beth and tell her not to come tonight. Thinking of his fledgling, Josef's gut twisted with fear and panic. He would not let Beth come here and place herself in danger. Or Mick. Lucius would jump at the chance to hurt them to get to me…
Josef entered his bedroom, shutting the door behind him and started to dress. He was breathing hard and his hands were trembling so badly, he could hardly button his shirt. "Goddamnit!" He finally gave up, and sat on the edge of his bed, his shirt hanging open. Lucius's phone call had shaken him worse than he cared to admit. Memories of their last encounter flashed through his mind.
Lucius leaned over him, blood dripping from his jaw to splash against Josef's face. Reaching down, he grabbed Josef's hand, snapping two fingers as though they were nothing more than twigs. Josef screamed, but the stake sunk in his chest prevented him from even writhing in pain…
Josef breathed in and out slowly, trying to calm himself. Eventually his heartbeat settled and his hands stopped shaking. He rose and buttoned his shirt. He looked out his bedroom window, down at the spot where Lucius had been standing not half an hour ago.
Lucius was back—after a hundred years of silence. Fuck, Josef thought. Just, fuck.
Finis
