Day 6 part 6
"So it's agreed then, you'll leave in the morning." Lilith folded the piece of parchment she had been scribbling on and placed into a matching envelope. "I'll send Quinn and MacGregor around to pick you up and see you safely to the plane," she continued speaking, although her focus was now on the hot scarlet wax dripping across the seam. "When you arrive go straight to the clan house if possible and present these papers to Roderick Weatherton and all your needs will be provided for."
Lilith looked up with her sparkling blue eyes and handed the paper to Victoria. She tilted her head to the side reading the expression in Victoria's dark eyes. It appeared as if a storm was raging behind her half closed lids. "My dear," she began and Victoria looked up from the parchment in her hand to the tiny figure behind the massive desk. "You must get used to our kind, we're not all like Jacob was."
Victoria wrinkled her brow. "Are you reading my thoughts?" Victoria questioned nervously. She hadn't felt an intrusion.
"No," Lilith laughed, "Your eyes."
Victoria tried to smile. "How should I reach you if I should learn anything interesting?" she asked as she tucked the envelope into her handbag.
Lilith thumped the side of her temple. "The usual way," her blue eyes twinkled," And if that doesn't work call this number." Lilith handed her a small business card, blank, except for the cell number embossed in black lettering across the surface. "You may not be able to reach me using your gift across the ocean. You may not be strong enough, yet."
Victoria stood and Lilith followed her motion. "I better go. I have to pack and contact a few people before I leave."
Lilith reached out and touched Victoria's arm. "You'll be fine dear, you're clever."
Victoria nodded and left the office behind. Retracing her steps back to the elevator Victoria paused in the hallway and reached for her cell phone. Turning her head left and then right, she searched the corridors for any sign that she had company. When satisfied that she was alone, she pursed her lips and dialed Sands' cell number. Her heart skipped a beat, what if he answered?
The phone rang several times and the message picked up. What would she say? Beep. "Sands, it's me, Victoria." she paused, "I didn't want you to worry when you got back and couldn't find me. I'll be gone for a few days at least. Lilith has a little job for me, I'll be out of the country." She paused again. "I hope you're all right." She paused again, "Good bye." She hit the send key and shut the phone.
Victoria leaned against the wall for a moment and sighed. She stuffed the phone into her bag and straightened up. She would go to the infirmary and see how Jackson was recovering.
Stepping into the elevator she pressed the button and the doors silently glided shut. She had forgotten to ask where the Infirmary was located. No problem. Victoria opened her mind and search the great house for Jackson. He was easy enough to find, human minds are always easy to read.
"Jackson?" she said sweetly without speaking.
"Miss Dupree?" he sounded excited.
"Yes, Jackson. I'm in the house, but don't know where you are." She smiled as he happily explained how to find the hospital wing.
Victoria made her way to the infirmary and found the human struggling to get out of the bed. She rushed over dropping her handbag on a nearby chair and placed her hands against his chest.
"Where do you think you're going?" she scolded. The thrall pushed against her hands, but even in perfect health, he would have been no match.
"What are you wearing?" she asked as her eyes scanned his torso critically. Jackson stopped pushing and glanced down. His checks reddened.
"A hospital gown." he mumbled. Victoria took a step back.
"Well then you better stay in bed." She pointed a finger at him. "You have to do as I say, unless of course," she paused for dramatic effect. "Debbie has already come down and reclaimed her servant?"
A strange questioning look came across Jackson's face. "No Miss Dupree, she hasn't."
"How is your leg? Can you walk?" she asked as she pulled the chair up along side his bed.
"Better." his hands smoothed the bed linen. "And no, the doctor says that it will be at least four weeks, but I intend to prove him wrong."
She watched as he shifted uncomfortably. Victoria ran her hand along the length of the bed sheets and felt the bandages beneath the surface. His entire upper thigh was immobilized.
"Three hundred stitches," he said quietly.
"You don't like it here do you?" she asked sympathetically.
"No." Then she heard his thoughts silently in her mind. "Turn me. Turn me and I'll hop out of this bed and serve you well. I wasn't meant to be confined to a bed."
Victoria watched his eyes as his thoughts wrapped around her. She sighed and shut him out. "I came to let you know that I'm being sent on an errand and will be gone for several days. When I return I'll come and see how you are doing." She smiled and he smiled back.
"Where are you going?" he asked casually. She once again opened the silent pathway of communication between them and scanned the room with her eyes.
"London, I am going out of town. " His eyes grew wider. "You are not to tell anyone. Do you understand me?" Jackson nodded quietly and looked around. "If something should happen to me, if I do not return by the end of the month. Find Sands and let him know where I have gone."
Jackson's eyes narrowed at the mention of Sands' name. He then reached for Victoria's hand and carefully lifted her finger tips to his lips. Victoria watched him carefully, his lips gently kissed the back of her hand. "As you wish."
Victoria knew he meant it, she read his thoughts. He was condemning his misfortune at being wounded in the last adventure. He wanted to throw aside the covers and follow her to London.
"Stay here and heal. I'll need your services when I return." this statement brought a smile to his face. "I've got to go now. Take care, Jackson."
Victoria picked up her handbag bag and headed out the door. She paused at the entrance and glanced back, his eyes held her in place. Victoria pulled herself away. Jackson was bold, too bold and she could see why Sands disliked him so much. Then again Sands was not there and she was fairly certain that Jackson would not abandon her in a club. She would go down to the guardians to see about replacing her weapons.
The journey had been uneventful, Victoria being the only passenger on the private flight. Quinn and MacGregor had picked her up just before dawn and made sure she had made it safely to the airport and found the clan's jet. Victoria was concerned and puzzled when neither of them joined her on board. She was truly on her own this time.
As the plane circled Heaththrow, Victoria rummaged around in her carry-on, checking for her passport should she need to present her papers. How would she get past security with all these weapons? Quinn had made sure she was well prepared for any situation. A little angry that she had left her only weapon with Sands, she sighed. She'd just have to charm them and hope that was all she needed to do.
"We have clearance to land and should be on the ground in ten minutes," the pilot called back to her. "Buckle-up please."
Victoria closed her carry-on and stuffed in under her seat. Seating down she fastened her safety belt. She smiled as she smoothed her jeans, Sands would like these. Victoria decided that she had needed to blend in more with the average person on the street, so she had purchased her first pair of blue jeans. They where prematurely faded in the right places and rested low on her hips in the current fashion. She had donned a simple white v-neck T-shirt and wore a black leather jacket and black western styled boots. Wrapped around her neck was her favorite Burberry scarf.
As the plane touched down on the tarmac Victoria became aware of the presence of vampires. Many vampires! In fact more that she had ever felt in one place at one time! She drew in a quick breath as the jet came slowly to a halt.
Victoria soon found herself going through the briefest of custom checks. A clerk from the custom's office came out to the plane and met her as she stood talking to the flight attendant about what to expect. He asked her if she had any contraband, she told him she did not, and he welcomed her to Great Britain. That was it. He turned and walked off the plane as quickly as he had boarded and she looked at the flight attendant, her mouth open in surprise.
"They know us," the young thrall told her with a smile. "He takes a lengthy vacation every year and the clan house pays for it.
She nodded her understanding, picked up her handbag, and followed the attendant down the plane's steps to the waiting limousine. Apparently someone had called ahead for her. With the mounting feeling of apprehension as she once again felt the presence of many vampires, she gratefully got into the darkened interior.
Victoria settled in and buzzed the driver. The privacy screen slowly descended.
"Yes, Miss Dupree?" he questioned politely. The sound of her name distracted her for a moment.
"How long before we arrive?" she asked politely.
"Less than an hour Miss," he replied. Victoria nodded and looked out the window. The privacy screen rose again.
It seemed odd that it was sunny here in England, when it had been so dark and stormy in New York. She watched the morning traffic as the limousine moved through stop and go traffic, then moved more swiftly as they headed east.
Soon the rolling green countryside was speeding by. It reminded her of her last trip to England.
But that was a long time ago, when the city had been smaller. She liked England, so much so that she had a small flat here years later for a few years before Jacob had caught up with her.
Thinking of Jacob triggered something deep inside and then she felt it. The intrusion in the back of her mind. She frowned and shut it out. The vampires were searching for her. Then she changed her mind, opening only a small corner. It would be good to know who was looking for her.
There were many. Confused. Angry. Hungry. So hungry. And having no idea what was happening to them. They wanted to learn. To understand.
Opening her eyes, she shut off even that small connection. It was nauseating her and her hand flew to her stomach in sympathy.
So this was what was happening in London. But Lilith had wanted her to find Abberline and Sands. Perhaps they were dealing with this problem. But who would make so many? Too many meant danger for them all.
She realized she was frowning, and took a deep breath to settle her nerves and stomach. Maybe this Roderick would know something. The limousine was slowing down, she noticed. Perhaps they were almost there.
But it hadn't been an hour yet, why was the driver slowing down? Victoria reached into her bag and pulled out one of her weapons, carefully she checked to see that it was loaded and then that the safety was off. She buzzed the driver and the privacy shield when down as she tuck the gun under her jacket. "Are we there?" she asked with a smile.
"Not yet, Miss. We have to get off the highway. It's all side roads now." The chauffer smiled briefly at her in the rear view mirror, then directed his attention back to the road.
Victoria nodded and clicked the safety on her weapon. She turned her head to look out the window, where the scenery was taking a definite turn, she smile as the cement and cobblestone walk-ways gave way to hedge rows and eventually a few sheep.
She saw a gaggle of public school boys in their uniforms walking in pairs up a slight hill. The limousine turned, giving her a new view of a quaint village below. They drove down and through the village, which reminded her of a episode of the Vicar of Dibley, then up and out the far side and up a winding road to an hill covered in woods. As she looked up at the woods, she caught the hint of a steep spire of some sort.
The limousine continued to wind up the hill until they drove through a heavy iron gate, which closed behind them, and into a long drive covered by overhanging hardwood trees. At the end of the drive, a huge mansion came into sight. The drive split left and right around a formal garden, then came together again before the steps leading up to the front doors.
This, she thought, is a bigger clan house than we have in New York.
Victoria smiled at the architecture, the grand manor styling. People today lived small, in boxes so close that you could touch your neighbor.
The vehicle came to a stop and the driver hopped out to open her door. The air was cool, even though it was one of the rare days where the sun was shinning in England. She shaded her eyes and looked to the massive front doors. There stood a man, well dressed. Black hair neatly trimmed, with a generous helping of white mixed in. He smiled and walked forward to greet her.
"Good morning, Miss Dupree," he said, inclining his head. "I am Master Weatherton's executive secretary, Smithington. If you will follow me." He gestured for her to join him and they climbed the front steps side by side. "I trust your journey was comfortable?"
"Yes, " she said pleasantly lifting her carry-on over her shoulder. "The crossing was quite uneventful."
Smithington turned his head ever so slightly. "Do I detect a French accent?" he questioned.
"Yes," she paused to gauge his unusual question. "On my father's side, but my mother was English," she hastened to add.
A smile appeared across his thin lips. "Very good then, if you would follow me."
As the entered the large structure a maid approached. "Agnes will see to your bag and prepare your room." Victoria smiled at the pretty young girl and handed her the bag.
Victoria and Smithington continued on across a spotless black and white checkered tile floor, to a heavy mahogany door. Smithington tapped lightly on it, then not waiting for an answer, opened the door and stood aside saying, "Miss Dupree."
With just a hint of trepidation, Victoria started to walk into the room. Her first impression was of a huge study done in dark colors, burgundy, forest green, leathers, dark woods, then her gaze fell upon the vampire standing there. If anything, he reminded her of the movie character Austin Powers, for he was short, his hair in a sort of long 60's cut, and a broad smile on his youthful face. That is where the similarity ended, for the vampire was extremely handsome and he wore the height of the current fashion, nothing gaudy like Austin was famous for.
Victoria put on her best diplomatic smile and reached into her handbag to retrieve the letter Lilith had written on her behalf.
"Come in my dear," Weatherton was stepping forward. "Can I offer you a drink?" he asked.
Victoria handed him the parchment, "No thank you, but I have a letter for you."
"Please come in and sit down." He motioned to a pair of large leather arm chairs in front of and empty fireplace.
Victoria found herself sitting down in a very comfortable chair. "Actually, I've been sitting all night," she told him, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Oh, really?" He seemed surprise. "You didn't play ping pong on the plane?"
Her mouth opened, but no words came out, then he laughed, and she laughed, and she felt she could like this person. He was nothing like she had imagined.
"No, pilot too busy to play." she watched his face as he read the letter.
He looked up, sharing a conspiratorial smile. "I see Lilith is still writing in chicken scratch," he said. "So, tell me, have you any idea of our current situation here?"
Victoria set her handbag down and looked at Mr. Weatherton for a moment. "Not really." She decided she'd like to hear the story from his point of view. "However," I do have a couple of people I'm supposed to keep an eye out for." She stretched one of her long legs forward as she spoke.
"Which people might those be?" he asked, folding Lilith's letter and tucking into the inside pocket of his suit's jacket.
Victoria opened her mind and looked into his, wondering if he was playing her for a fool. After all he had read Lilith's letter, which she had not. Yet his mind was closed to her and he sat watching her waiting for her to reply. Victoria tried a little harder. Nothing. She did get a sense of age from Roderick. Great age. Maybe he was reading her, she thought with a sinking sensation.
But no, she would feel that. She had felt it when Viscalli had been trying to enter her thoughts.
"I'm looking for two of our members who we have reason to believe are here in London." Victoria interlaced her finger tips. "But I'm sure you already know who I am here for, after all you have the letter." Victoria let her eyes momentarily drop where he had placed Lilith's letter in his pocket before returning to lock her gaze upon his gray eyes.
"She is rather vague," he told her, "more interested that I offer you all the amenities of our humble house." He gestured to the room.
Victoria laughed. "Well then," she paused with a smile. "I'll check in with my mistress before naming names. Mr. Weatherton," she questioned, "what is going on here in London? There seems to be a lot of activity in the city."
"To tell you the truth," Roderick said, "we have lost a few members in the past month. Same over on the Continent. There's a foul wind blowing."
"How?" she asked innocently.
"They were caught unawares at first," he told her, his face solemn. "Some good people have died. Not pretty deaths. We seem to have an epidemic of newly turned vampires."
"Caught unawares?" She was unsure of what he meant. "Do you mean, overtaken?" This concerned her. This was exactly the type of situation Sheldon Jeffery Sands would get himself into, and just the type of situation he would feel was to dangerous to tell her about. She frown at little at the thought. "Because when I entered the city I felt their presence, they are hungry and confused."
Roderick sighed. "Yes. Our telepaths have reported this. They have been able to elude these gangs of freshly turned young ones for the most part, but others have been encircled, captured, drained of their knowledge and blood, until death even." He looked up, his eyes darkened by sadness. "The one great advantage we have is that they are young, so they are limited to the hours of darkness. But we must stop this plague."
"How can I be of help?" she asked, confused about Lilith's intentions for sending her here. Did she want her to find Abberline and Sands, or did she want her to help Roderick Weatherton with his little problem.
"What did Lilith tell you?" He spoke calmly, but his hands were holding the arms of his chair. "Are you merely to find the missing people? Or is she asking you to assist us in stopping this menace? Or does she think your two people have been abducted?"
"I'm here to make sure our people are safe." Victoria saw a reaction behind those gray eyes. "But if you think I can be a help here, once my mission is complete, perhaps Lilith will allow me to stay on." Victoria leaned forward. "But you should be warned, a Guardian I'm not."
"No?" he seemed genuinely surprised. "They why would she send you? You must have some special talent or connection to these mysterious missing people. If I knew more, I might be able to help."
Well, he'd thrown out a bone. She wondered if she should bite.
Victoria bit her lip, not sure what she should say or do. But Lilith had sent her here for a purpose. "Could I make a phone call?" she asked with a smile. "If I could just check in with my mistress then I would know what I am able to say." Weatherton looked surprised but waved his hand towards the phone on his desk. Victoria smiled and walked towards the phone, dialing the number Lilith had given her.
Lilith answered almost at once. "Yes?"
"It's me," Victoria said, turning to look at Weatherton. He was politely walking over to the desk and looking down at its contents, but she knew he could hear every word being said.
"Yes, Victoria. Is everything all right?" Lilith's voice held just a hint of concern.
"They are being very welcoming here," Victoria reported, "but I am unsure how much I'm allowed to say about my instructions."
"Put the old sly fox on the phone, my dear," Lilith instructed.
Victoria covered the receiver with her hand and looked to Weatherton. "She'd like to speak to you." Victoria thrust the phone forward surprised at the turn of events.
Walking back toward Victoria, Roderick took the phone. "Hello, mon amie," he said to Lilith. Victoria could hear Lilith call him several things in a language that sounded like Latin. He turned and smiled at Victoria as he patiently listened.
"Yes, my dear Lilith, I have been keeping my sharp wit keen on any whetstone I can find." He raised his brows as he looked at Victoria, "And the current one is very lovely. No. Of course. Yes. Oh, I see. Thank you for sharing. Do you want to speak to her yourself?" He held the phone back out to Victoria and she took it.
"Latin?" she asked him.
He shrugged. "We both spoke it as children you know."
"No, I didn't know," she took the phone. "Yes."
"He has guessed Abberline is involved somehow, so tell him," Lilith instructed, "but make sure that you two are not being overheard."
"And me, what should I tell him about me?" Victoria once again bit her lower lip.
"Tell him you are trained in tracking, nothing more. He doesn't have a need to know all of your secrets, my dear."
"Yes, I understand. Thank you." Victoria hung up the phone. "Shall we sit ?" Victoria motioned to the chairs.
"I thought you were tired of sitting?" he quipped.
"I am," Victoria crossed her arms. "I'm very good at finding things." She paused to see if he was listening. Weatherton straighten up and placed on hand into his jacket pocket. "I'm to locate Abberline and give him a very urgent message. That is all."
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