It wasn't even that far into the morning but Vivika already felt like it had been Thursday for a week. They were all running around in search of that damn bomb and had gotten practically nowhere. Vivika had been in Sanjay's office for a good hour already when Thomas finally walked in with a file in his hand. Finally, muttered her mind, now we can get something done.
Thomas hardly stopped to acknowledge his wife – which irritated her somewhat – so instead she just watched him from her place in the angled guest chair, a hand rested atop her flat stomach while she continued to comb through the data she'd got on all the B+ humans on her tablet. It was then Desai finally returned to his office and instantly set about filling Thomas in just as he'd done with
"You see we did our third induction this week. Another 2 probably by the end of the month.
Sanjay rounds his desk, cane in hand." The slash Vivika had left on his cheek had started to settle into a scar, a line which had caused his neat beard to become a little asymmetrical. "That suggestion you had about harvesting early. It- It's really paying off."
Eichhorst finally looked up at the human, his own had almost healed entirely but Vivika wasn't entirely pleased, she'd given over a lot of her blood and many a kiss, it should have healed twice as fast as normal.
"That is because you made it pay off, Mister Desai. I'm very impressed by the turn around." He put the file down.
Vivika smirked to herself as she finally set the tablet down in her bag and moved to perch on the edge of Sanjay's desk, only a few inches from her husband's side.
"I've always said Sanjay is a good boy."
The oddly kind comment caught Mister Desai off guard but managed to cover it well, Thomas didn't seem to have even noticed his wife had spoken.
Sanjay cleared his throat and kept his eyes firmly on Eichhorst. "Well coming from you sir, that means a lot."
"In fact, you have done so well we have decided to promote you."
Vivika leaned in a little closer to flash a big smile over at Sanjay. "Good boys get nice things,"
The German gestured for the bearded man to sit. "Please." An order which was quickly obeyed as was wise for the human.
"Really?"
To say Sanjay was surprised was somewhat of an understatement, Thomas and Vivika Eichhorst hadn't ever been known for kindness or generosity. Still, if he was being promoted then clearly he'd done something right, been forgiven for the escape of Dutch Velders and Abraham Setrakian which was a delight because he didn't think his face could take any more damage.
Several sheets of paper got set out before him and instantly and Sanjay turned his attention back the job at hand.
"Whatever you need me to do."
Vivika turned back to smile up at her darling husband which caused her long, raven hair to brush across her back teasingly. For a second Sanjay's dark eyes flashed over to her exposed skin in that black, backless dress, like porcelain. Such beautiful pale skin exposed to him and clearly displaying that she wasn't wearing a bra. In his opinion the back of her was just as enticing as the front, had Vivika not been utterly deranged she'd have made the perfect women; then again, being utterly deranged was precisely the reason she was perfect for Thomas Eichhorst.
"There is a group at large here in New York." Thomas explained as he continued to shift papers around on the desk. "It's of the utmost importance they be apprehended as soon as possible."
Vivika sighed. "They've proven themselves slippery and not in the fun way. They cannot be allowed to continue."
Eichhorst handed over to sheets then with pictures of both Setrakian and Dutch on them then gestured to each image in turn. Vivika loved the way he could command a room with little to no real effort.
"You are familiar with two of them, Abraham Setrakian and Dutch Velders."
Sanjay looked at the pictures dutifully. "It would give me great pleasure to bring them to justice."
Thomas didn't miss a beat. "These other two, Ephraim Goodweather and Vasiliy Fet are working with them." Yet more papers were handed over. "There is also a half-Strigoi, half-human who goes by the name of Quinlan."
Desai seemed rather surprise by the introduction of a half-breed, he'd never come across one before and hadn't even known if such a thing was possible. Fortunately he managed to take the information in his stride, he was fully aware that Vivika was neither Strigoi or human. Best he just moved on rather than risk angering the Eichhorsts.
"Huh. Why are they so important?"
Without a single change in expression or any hint of fear Thomas answered simply. "They intent to smuggle a nuclear bomb into Manhattan."
The suit clad human was understandably terrified by the words 'nuclear bomb', the last one had left him walking with a limp – eyes flicked to his cane a second – so he really didn't wish to learn what the second one did.
"Do, em, do you want them dead or a live."
Thomas shrugged, unusual for him but it did occasionally happen. "Either will do though I would prefer Setrakian alive."
Sanjay looked back to Vivika who watched him over her shoulder. "Am I to assume you still desire Miss Velders alive, Missus Eichhorst."
Vivika sighed. "Sanjay, I'm going to have a baby. I genuinely don't care enough to insist upon torturing her any longer, I just want her dead. Yes, I'd prefer to pluck out her teeth and fingernails then feed them to her, peel her skin away and burn it in front of her," she disturbingly let out a blissful sigh as if she were enjoying the thought "but dead is dead."
Shocked, Sanjay's brown eyes cautiously tilted down to where Vivika's hand rested on her flat belly. How? He knew Strigoi anatomy – certainly not as intimately as Vivika did but still he knew that they weren't exactly equipped for procreation – this shouldn't have been possible. Was Thomas the father? No, he couldn't have been, but then again, Sanjay very much doubted Eichhorst would let another man near his prized wife let alone impregnate her.
Sanjay paused mentally as he wondered what sort of mother Vivika would make. He'd have feared had the baby been fully human, she was psychotic and God only knew how that would have mentally damaged a child. However, if this really was Eichhorst's child then it wouldn't be even remotely human, maybe she'd be a good mother to a monster.
He watched as Thomas tilted Vivika's chin up with a single finger then bent down to press a quick kiss to her lips.
"Already making compromises for our child, I'm proud of you, meine liebling."
Well, Desai guessed that answered his question of if it really was Eichhorst's child, although now he had a million more questions.
"Sanjay, have those distributed to all the guards and soldiers," She quickly gestured to the pictures still in Sanjay's large hands, "make sure those on the checkpoints get them no matter what."
The human nodded. "Of course, Missus Eichhorst."
The woman stood then and straightened the skirt of her black dress before she grabbed her bag just before Thomas slipped his arm around Vivika's waist, he held her a moment before he turned his attention back to Desai.
"Do not disappoint us, Mister Desai."
With that thinly veiled threat Thomas guided his wife out of Sanjay's office and away from the depressing ward. As they descended the metal stairs and strutted through the facility floor towards the exit Thomas kept his arm around her, never would have even thought about it not that Vivika wanted him to.
"I love you, Thomas." She told him happily as he used his keycard to grant them exit; like a gentleman he held the door open for her.
"And I you, meine süße."
Together they made their way down the hall, his arm snugly around her waist as she enjoyed his warmth seeping through his suit and into her body; especially her naked back.
"I know I have been very distant these last few weeks. I am sorry." He pressed a quick kiss to her temple as they continued to walk. "The ball is firmly in Setrakian's and his gang of delinquents'court at the moment, it won't be long before they are spotted somewhere."
"I know, I'm not angry or anything. We have work to do for our Lord, everything else must be a step behind that."
"So understanding when you desire to be." He smirked to himself. "However, I have a present for y-"
Vivika perked up and quickly cut in before her husband had even finished his sentence. "Present?"
Eichhorst chuckled to himself because his young bride was so very fickle and it did amuse him. Vivika pressed herself closer to Thomas' side happily.
"Yes, a present. Come with me and I'll show you."
So she did, she couldn't ever deny her sweet monster of a husband. They returned to the car and Vivika spent most of the drive back to the penthouse they shared with her dazzling green eyes staring off out the window at the day lit with it's odd yellow hue. They didn't talk much – often didn't during car travel – just enjoyed the quiet and anticipation of whatever Vivika's present was.
An uncontrollable smile insisted upon dominating Vivika's face as they entered their penthouse via the double doors, he quickly took her bag from her and hooked it up in the coat rack uncaring that she never did that; Thomas was more focused on guiding his young bride up the grand stairs to the second floor. Vivika shot that dirty smile of want at her beloved husband but it faded quickly when he turned right instead of left towards their bedroom. Her brow furrowed in confusion but she didn't object to his hand which tugged her along with him. They stood outside one of the vacant bedrooms while a questioning expression settled on her face.
"Hmm, a room in my own house, how kind of you." She teased.
"Hush, little whore and close your eyes."
Vivika obeyed and closed her eyes, she heard him push the door open and then let him carefully guide her over the threshold.
"Open."
She did so quickly but inside she didn't find the empty room she'd grown accustom to, instead green eyes found the room had been magically turned into a simple but beautiful nursery. The walls were still the lilac-ish gray they'd always been but dead centre of the room stood a large, ovular crib with a pale blue mattress, a dresser stood proud against the west wall which she was absolutely certain hadn't been there before – then again she could have been wrong, she'd only been in there once when she'd rejected it as her entomology room – and when she pulled one of the drawers open to reveal a vast aray of baby clothes. A rug covered the hardwood floors by the crib, a fluffy gray one while a rocking chair had taken up residence by the window which gave a lovely view over to where Lady Liberty had been blown sky high. What really made Vivika smile though was the old fashioned teddy bear perched on the rocking chair with a little white bow around it's neck. She could have cried, it was so beautiful.
"You did all of this for me?" His wife asked as she finally turned to face him.
"I wished to apologize for when I yelled at you." He said as if it were nothing. "I will confess I never wanteda child, not before I became aNazi, not when I was human and not after I became Strigoi. Then one day I found myself asking, no, begging, our Lord to allow you to house the Mongrel experiment to see if it is possible to birth Borns without turning the mother. Even after I'd injected you I didn't want a child, I just knew that one needed to be born so we can test if they are immune to the worms and that this would make you happy." Thomas sighed and peered downwards a moment. "Now though, after seeing how you have lit up, how you talk about the world where our Master has taken everything for his own, I find myself thinking a little differently. I still do not desire a child, however, I think I'd very much like our child."
Instantly Vivika threw her arms around his neck to hold on tight "Oh Thomas. You perfect man. I love you, I love this."
She kissed him quick.
"Would you like to know a secret, my love?" Vivika nodded against his shoulder, she always liked to know secrets. "When I fed from you earlier and you tasted different, took me a while to figure out it was your hormone levels but I think I'm developing a taste for it."
Vivika's head shot up. "Oh are you now?"
Another kiss as his remaining hand went to rest on her flat belly.
"It will be a while until we can truly check, but your blood says you're pregnant and I do like the taste."
Vivika beamed, they'd have fun with that little bit of information. She was happy as she continued to hold him tight.
"Do you like your surprise?"
"I love it!" She grinned. "You always amaze me with how you do things like this so quickly."
"I never reveal my tricks, liebling."
His hand slipped from her hip and down to squeeze her backside as she pressed herself against him wantonly. She fished his tie in one hand so she could pull him down for a deep kiss while the other remained firmly around his neck so he had no escape. Vivika knew he'd already be able to smell her want, her wetness for him.
That was when the semi-immortal's cell phone rang, she was pleased she'd left it in the pocket of her dress because she didn't like the idea of having to go downstairs to her bag. She had no desire to leave Thomas' arms but when she saw 'Pretty Face' displayed on the caller id Vivika thought it best to answer and see what had been fucked up.
"Yes, Sanjay?" She asked a little disinterestedly while Thomas started to kiss at her neck and jaw.
Vivika let out a few hums and repeated the name Creem while Sanjay spoke, then, after a few minutes, she tilted the phone away from herself and smiled at her husband.
"Seems we have a location for your Jew and his pals. Though Alonzo Creem thinks he deserves a reward."
Thomas smirked and kisses his wife. "Well, we can't say no to that now can we? Have them taken to our Lord."
She waisted no time obeying her husband and quickly gave Sanjay Desai his orders. They'd not get their afternoon tryst but maybe they'd kill Setrakian and that was almost as satisfying.
Together they quickly made their way to the Empire State Building, the place which had become The Master's castle in a way. Thomas drove again, he usually did when he was happy and Vivika found herself just watching his happy little demon face while she softly brushed her thumb back and forth over her belly. Her pregnancy wouldn't be as long normal pregnancies but she wasn't worried. In fact she was excited. This was really happening! They were having a baby! Thomas was going to finally get his nemesis, the Jew, and Vivika would finally get the death of that bitch Dutch Velders; how could her life have possibly gotten better in that moment?
Once they arrived Eichhorst and his bride headed straight up to their Master to wait for Desai and Creem which really didn't take long, no more than ten seconds after they'd entered.
"My Master, Mister Desai has brought us a promising lead." He said as he approached his Lord with Vivika less than a step behind him.
Thomas couldn't have kept the smile off his face even if he'd tried, the thought of killing Setrakian was just too good. With anticipation the Eichhorsts stood off to one side of The Master while they stared at Alonzo Creem expectantly. Sanjay and Creem stood side by side flanked by guards who loomed with automatic weapons.
"I'm honored." Sanjay bowed his head respectfully; but mostly out of fear of what The Master would do should he not.
If asked later Desai would have reluctantly admitted that even knowing what The Master was capable of, the horrors he could inflict, Sanjay still found himself more terrified of Vivika; a strange outcome maybe but nonetheless a true one. Sanjay turned his eyes away from the raven-haired beauty before his cheek started to hurt.
"You're the big man. The decision maker." An over-confident Creem pressed a hand to his chest. "Alonzo Creem at your service." Dark eyes flicked over to the semi-immortal then, surprising just how rude this man elected to be before The Master. "And you're a damn fine hottie."
Vivika raised an unimpressed eyebrow but Thomas jumped in before she could.
"You will show my wife some respect, Mister Creem."
It was the dark-skinned man's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Wife?" He nodded to himself. "Well done, dude."
Vivika liked this little burst of possessiveness Thomas displayed in that moment. The German liked that other men found her desirable, wanted her for themselves, but would never let them touch her; Vivika Graves had become an Eichhorst, she was his. Fortunately for the man with a silver grill over his teeth sensed the warning for what it was and turned his attention smoothly back to The Master who continued to stand silent before their guest.
"I can lead you to the pawnbroker, the duchess and that bald doctor. Even the Lumen. That's four for the price of one."
Vivika rolled her eyes; this isn't first grade math class. Before she could voice her irritation Creem whipped out a grenade and pulled the pin. None of them moved or panicked an inch save for Sanjay, actually the only real movement was Vivika's head so she could rest it against her husband's shoulder.
"But if you boys get the notion to sting me to geth that information without paying for it, I'll drop this sucker and everybody gets nothin'."
Just as with his smile Thomas couldn't keep his displeased expression from his face.
"What is your price?" Asked The Master as if there wasn't an explosive hardly a foot from his face.
"First, I want Roosevelt Island back. No Strigs, no baton carriers. My Island under my control."
Thomas' hand tightened around his wife's waist. "How dare you?"
The Master easily raised a hand and Thomas fell silent in an instant. Vivika knew how protective of their Lord her husband was so she leaned upwards nad kissed his cheek as a distraction; she'd never liked it when someone upset her sweet Thomas.
"Anything else?" Questioned The Master.
Creem nodded. "You can give me full control over the entire black market."
Vivika snorted, that wouldn't ever happen, she'd been silently controlling it for months now; had she not radiation poisoning would have killed a lot of people by that point. She went ignored by all though, they had slightly more pressing matters, not the grenade of course, a bigger bomb.
"And if you want information or me to track down anyone else, my crew will be at your disposal. It's a win-win situation."
Creem really believed that, thought his offer of aid was so strong that he could just take what he wanted and that The Master would let him, honestly believed that he could have his island back and rule over it like a drop of blood in an ocean, just him standing alone while Strigoi surrounded him.
The Master made a little noise as if clearing his throat, an innocent noise to most people, but Thomas and Vivika knew better; it was his stinger as it shifted in his throat. The Master stayed quiet for a few moments and clearly the black man had started to grown nervous.
"So- so, what? Do we have a deal or what?"
"No, we do not." Said The Master easily while Thomas and his wife slowly developed grins because they knew what was to come. Oh so easily The Master stepped Eldritch's body forwards a single step. "I was merely curious as to the depth of your delusion."
In an instant he grabbed Creem by the throat who tossed the grenade but using his speed The Master just whooshed over, caught it and ripped the detonator away from the explosive material before it could go off. It was like a poor firework as it sparked and fizzled in The Master's hand. Vivika settled further into Thomas' chest, he was always so warm and comforting, besides she needed a soft pillow for this show they'd found themselves watching. The look on Alonzo's face when he realized his demands had failed amused Vivika, he backed away with his hands raised as if that would somehow save him.
"Okay, so – so wait, wait. All right. So … I have another offer."
Sanjay stood there like a deer caught in headlights, if he moved he might have been struck down next. The Master latched on to Creem then while everyone watched on, watched as Creem fell to the ground and the worms started to take hold. Sanjay's flooded with horror but his face truly paled when he spied a look at the Eichhorsts and saw the way their eyes twinkled with want for death, the smile on Vivika's lips; this woman is insane.
Vivika caught his eyes with her own. "You did very well, Sanjay, I'm proud of you."
At least she'd stopped wanting to kill him for a moment, that was nice.
"When he turns we shall know and you will go after them, Thomas." Ordered The Master calmly.
Thomas nodded. "Ja, mein Meister."
Sensing they were getting close to the end Thomas pressed a quick kiss to his bride's lips then went and hauled Creem off to a spot over by the loam. Meanwhile, The Master surprised Vivika by resting his clawed hand on her belly, his warmth drifted through her dress.
"You tasted different to Thomas." He stated, eyes on her stomach. "The experiment is well on its way."
Vivika beamed. "It's really happening, Master. The next stage will be to see if he is immune to the worms as regular Born are."
"This experiment is what one would call a long shot, but we should not be discouraged, Vivika." He took his hand away. "Be prepared that this pregnancy will be several months shorter than a human one, you will start to show soon." He paused a moment. "Would you like to watch the fireworks with me?"
"I'd be honored, Master."
Together they headed up the metal steps and stared out the window at the night and the bridges once they'd reached the top. After a moment Thomas joined them as he brushed his hands clean of, God knew where Creem had been and Thomas liked everything to be tidy.
"You too, Sanjay." Vivika called.
Her words seemingly jolted Desai out of his stupor where he's been staring at Creem. He cleared his throat and headed up the steps before Vivika felt the need to tell him again. Green eyes twinkled when Eichhorst held the detonator out for her to take.
"Care to do the honores, my love?"
Vivika peeked passed her husband to the bearded man with a scared cheek who still seemed to be in shock, she smirked.
"I think we should let Sanjay have a turn. After all, he did have the explosives all set and primed just like I told him to." Mister Desai tilted his head towards her. "Good boy."
The detonator was thrust towards him by Thomas and he took it uneasily. With everything set, Thomas wrapped both arms around his young wife.
"Don't keep our Lord waiting, Sanjay."
Sanjay took Vivika's words to heart, after what he'd just seen The Master do Sanjay had no intention of risking it. He rested a hand against the cold wall to steady himself then, with little more than a calming breath, he pushed the button. Instantaneously there was a series of god-awful bangs and explosions as each and every bridge which connected Manhattan to the outside world crumbled into the water as fireballs overtook them. Fire was an odd being, it both saved and destroyed, even watching a car burn could be beautiful thanks to the way flames danced. Vivika thought it a shame she'd not brought marshmallows.
"That's all the bridges and tunnels." Sanjay informed as he put the device down as if it would bite him then turned to face the others fully. "Every contact with the outside world has been severed. There's no way they're getting that warhead into the city."
"My complements." Was all The Master said before going back to gaze out the window at the destruction they'd caused.
Thomas regarded the human a moment."Mister Desai planned and organized the entire operation. Not even Eldritch Palmer would have been able to execute such a feat." He finally turned to his Lord.
The Master made another grumbling noise and Thomas tried to backpeddle as quickly as he could when he realized that hadn't been the right thing to say. Vivika squeezed his remaining hand.
"That … was perhaps a bit of an overstatement. Palmer-"
The Master cut his 'special child' off which may have been a kindness.
"Palmer was a quisling, a traitor to his own kind."
"Yes, of course. Precisely."
The German turned back to gaze out the window but The Master watched him for a second or two. He noticed the way he kept a hold on his wife, how she leaned into his touch.
Sanjay couldn't watch any longer, he wanted to leave. The Master had a plan and wasn't prone to rash actions but after what he'd just witnessed him do to Creem, Sanjay wasn't so sure. Eichhorst was a bureaucrat by nature though enjoyed the pain he could inflict. Then there was Vivika, Sanjay had seen her madness and sadism first hand; he didn't wish to think of what she was really capable of. Desai didn't want to be around them another minute, not one second longer than he had to be.
"So … will there be anything else?" Christ he hoped the answer was no.
"Yes." Said The Master.
Quickly Thomas, Vivika and The Master turned back to the balcony while Sanjay grabbed the detonator from where he'd dropped it. The small group of monsters and collaborators – though he wasn't entirely sure where one ended and the other started in some cases – turned their attention downwards over the metal rail where Creem's mouth had started to smoulder.
"Would you be so kind as to remove the silver from Mister Creem's teeth." It clearly wasn't a question so The Master did not state it as one. "While I believe Vivika would enjoy doing so a lady in her condition should not be subjected to such things."
Down below the newly turned man with dark skin continued to burn. The scared human breathed out a laugh as though it were all a joke, he'd just been promoted after all but when Thomas turned to look at him expectantly Sanjay remembered that in the end he was little more than useful food to them.
"It seems to be causing him a certain discomfort. No?"
"Do it quickly." The Master commanded. "We wouldn't want him to burn up before he's become useful."
The bearded man took the hint and made his way as calmly as possible down the metal stairs, his footfalls let little metallic note sound as he moved. He took a calming breath as he made it among the guards, Strigoi who would kill with little more than a thought from their Lord. Silently he knelt down over Creem and took out his pen and used it to fish out the silver grill, he sat it on his pocket square then returned to his feet.
"Thank you."
He practically ignore The Master's minor thanks, instead he dropped the pen in disgust. What the hell was he supposed to do with the grill? Something told him it would be seeing a trash can in the not too distant future.
