Chapter 51
An Old World Interlude
The noise that echoed through the hallowed halls of Ördögház as armies of workers toiled day and night to restore Viktor's seat of power, to bring back the majesty and opulance that had been destroyed by Markus's Wrath nearly fifteen years previos. Erika almost winced in pain as the continuous pounding and shrieking of drills and sledgehammers reverbirated within her mind. "Be careful with that!" She snapped at a pair of workmen as they attempted to hang a chanderleer. Things had changed so much since the last time she dwelled within these walls, she had gone from being a humble maid, a sycophant to Kraven, to being one of the most influencial Vampires in this restored coven. She walked with a new confidence through the halls of Viktor's mansion, flanked as always by the warriors she herself had sired. Along with Alexei she had recruited so many hired guns to make up her legion, men who would wear the same uniforms as Kraven, who would help her cary out his wishes, yet of the hundred, perhaps more men she had recrutied only a dozen had survived the bite, and even though they proved no match for the Death Dealers. She looked over her shoulder at the three men following her, decked out in black overcoats, carring machine guns; three men all that was left of her army. Even Alexei, her sweet Alexei, he had looked after her after Kraven's demise, and now he too was gone.
The golden haired seductress entered an area of the mansion where the workers were not allowed. They came to the ruins of a control booth and a pair of huge stone doors, Erika paused before entering, she allowed her men to pull open the doors for her, the automatic controls long since destroyes. She stopped dead in her tracks as she entered the cold and damp room. It was the first time she had been in here since it happened… the masacre. It was the first time anyone had entered this room… anyone except Viktor. Erika swallowed hard as she took in the sight that awaited her, this room had always had an eerie feel to it, now it seemed damn right evil. The cold stone floor of the Elders tomb was cracked and upheaved, as if some great leviathan had burst through the marble, the three tombs lay cracked and broken, not one of the Elders seels was visible. Stood in the ruins of Markus's tomb, a gold and glass coffin, its lower half torn open. The only thing more disturbing than the sight that awaited her was the lingering smell of blood and ash. Cancel that she thought to herself, the only thing more disturbing than the sight of the room, was the sight of the gaunt and defeated Vampire Elder that sat atop the charred stone throne. Viktor had originally been a means to an ends, however she now felt a geniune concern for him. He was not the same man he had been before, it appears he drive, his power, his very essence had been taken from him, along with the ear that Malachi had bit off. It was as if he had stopped caring, the dessertian of Selene and Chastity along with Amelia's resistance had broken him. Now he did nothing, but sit there, brooding to himself.
"My Lord" She greeted him nervously "The workmen are nearly finished upstairs."
Viktor said nothing he just sat upon his throne staring vacantly past Erika to a crack in the door "When was the last time you fed my Lord?" She asked him "You must keep your strength up." Viktor continued his silence as Erika became desperate for a response "Please say something My Lord."
"I trust everyone has been assigned quarters?" Viktor croaked
"Yes My Lord" She smiled "Your quarters have been restored… would you like to move into them?"
"And I trust quarters have been prepared for Selene and Chastity?" He asked her with a hint of hope in her voice "For when they come back."
Erika let out a deep sigh "They are not coming back My Lord… They have both made their descisions. My Lord they have betrayed you."
Finally some feeling flashed across Viktor's cold blue eyes as he clenched the arms of his throne "Have quarters been prepared for Selene and Chastity?" He asked her sternly
"Yes My Lord." She bowed reluctantly.
Viktor nodded slightly "Leave me!"
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Erika was escorted back to her quarters by the three men who still wore Kraven's uniforms, when work began to restore Ördögház, she hand selected her own quarters, the very same ones that had been assigned to Kraven. In one final attempt to get close to him. Erika was relieved when she finally got to the solid Maghony doors of her chambers, "Thank you gentlemen" You spoke softly as she turned to face her body guards "You are dismissed for the night."
"Thank you ma'am" The lead man bowed "Have a good evening."
"And you Carlson." She smiled before retreating into the sanctuary of her chambers.
The three men escorting her turned about and made where they way back to the main living area of the mansion for an evening of wine women and song with the laidies and maidens that had come to this place form New York. "You think she's acting weird lately?" Carlson asked his companions.
"Si" the man on his left answered him "Seniorita Erika… has been most distant lately."
"Yeah" The third man interrupted in a thick German accent "And I haven't been paid this month. I'm starting to think that this vampire gig might not be as sweet as I thought."
"True" Carlson nodded "And what about her insisting that she have a cryogenic unit installed in her quarters… that's just weird."
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Erika stepped out of the shower and slipped into a silk robe, tying her damp hair back she made her way into the luxurious bedroom that was now hers, she opened the huge walk in wardrobe, among all the leather and lace garments, as well as countless pairs of shoes, stood an unusual object, a bulky silver box emmiting a blue light sat at the bottom of the wardrobe, she bent down and typed in a six digit code causing the box to open, as it did, an icey breezed eminated from the metal structure, Erika reached in with a delicate hand and stroked several strands of blacks hair away from a cold dead face. "Hello my love…" she sighed contently as she carressed the dismembered head she had liberated from its icey prison in New York "…for one day we will be reunited. I promise."
