The Bloodpack
Chapter 6: Vladivostok

Vladivostok
Russian Federation, Asia
Circa AD 2000

They had not been kidding when they said organized crime was a big problem in Vladivostok, Asad reflected. He was being led along a shipbuilding yard by two burly Russians who looked like their fists could inflict more damage than the Uzis they carried.

Dieter Reinhardt was a difficult man to locate. After getting Verlaine, he had scoured the city for any remaining members of the Reinhardt family. After a few days he had discovered that Reinhardt had last been known to be headed for Germany.

Asad had traversed Berlin in search for Reinhardt. It had yielded no results, but a Prague source informed him that Reinhardt had been spotted in Vladivostok. Asad had only been in Russia once. He had read up on the city while still in Germany.

Organized crime was a particular problem, and Asad believed that now. He had asked to see Reinhardt, who he had learnt was Vladimir Borodin's right-hand man. After a suspicious look-over and body search by the guards, he had been allowed inside the shipyard. They were heading to Borodin's office now.

Any vampire families that had lived here had since moved out, most likely from the pollution. Two-thirds of the city was barely habitable. It made it the perfect place for a traumatized youth like Reinhardt to disappear to.

The double murder of Reinhardt's family had been a tragedy. All of the European Vampire Nation had been shocked to the core when news spread that Kurt Reinhardt had murdered his wife of ninety years, only to be killed by his vengeful son Dieter less than ten minutes later. It had been a nightmare to sort out all the details so that Damaskinos would know the exact truth. Even now no-one really knew exactly what had motivated the older Reinhardt to attack his wife with a chopper.

One of his guards said something in Russian, but Asad didn't understand. He spoke no Russian. The guard gestured at the door in front of them. Through crude sign language, he determined he was supposed to go inside.


The men had contacted them earlier to say that Reinhardt had a visitor. Borodin had given the affirmative that this mysterious man should be let in. They had not given any names, and they waited to find out just who this man was.

Reinhardt was bored out of his mind. There were no inter-mafia wars going on right now so he had no excuse to kill people. He suppressed a sigh as he played with his signature blade-guns. He had no idea who would want to see him; at least, not anyone human. He reckoned that there were still some purebloods out there who would want to find out what had happened in Berlin.

The door opened and their visitor entered. A whiff of his scent and Reinhardt knew he was a vampire. It was a subtle gesture, but he stiffened in his seat. The humans in the room did not see it. They could not see it.

"You!" Borodin barked at Asad, his accent heavily Russian. "Who?"

"He knows." Asad looked directly at him. Borodin turned to his lieutenant, expectant.

"Yeah," Reinhardt muttered, keeping his eyes on the other vampire. He turned to Borodin. "He's clean. I'll take care of him." He knew Borodin had been having dinner with one of his many whores. It was no secret that the crime lord wanted to get back to his meal, and he left the room, leaving them alone.

"Who are you and what the fuck do you want with me?" Reinhardt demanded. He spoke in English.

"I am Asad. I'm here on business of Eli Damaskinos'. You remember him?"

Reinhardt leaned back in his chair. "Yeah. Five thousand years old, leader of the families, lotsa power and influence, blah blah blah. What's new?"

"The Bloodpack."

"The who?"

"The Bloodpack," Asad repeated. "A group Damaskinos is forming to tackle Blade. You know him, don't you?"

Oh, Reinhardt knew. Knew too well, because he had been in Moscow two years before when Blade had torn through the city with his guns and sword and hate for all vampires. Hundreds had been killed. Reinhardt had left town a day before his own hotel had been purged of all vampiric presence.

"What's in it for me?" Reinhardt asked. Asad almost sighed, but he kept that at bay. He had been warned by Reinhardt's old friends that he was stubborn and lazy. Stubborn had been a point much emphasized.

"Recognition of your family name," he said, at length, "After all, the Reinhardt line was denounced by many families after your parent's deaths." Reinhardt yawned loudly. Obviously that held no appeal. "And a seat on the Shadow Cabinet with the power to influence the decisions of every family in the Vampire Nation."

That caught his attention. He straightened in his chair again, looking sharply up. Inwardly Asad smirked; he had the bait and the hook, now all he needed was his fish to bite.

"A seat on the Shadow Cabinet," Reinhardt repeated slowly to no-one in particular. It sounded good; almost too good. But it was pretty obvious that Damaskinos wanted him on this Bloodpack endeavor, even though his family was in disgrace. The name Reinhardt was almost forgotten, and he rather liked it that way; but a chance to be one of the most powerful men in all of Europe...Hell, in the entire world...

Asad extended a hand, holding the truce key. "Take this and you accept. Say no, and I give this offer to someone else. There are still a few families left in Moscow."

"I'm yours." Reinhardt almost snatched the key from him. "Where, when and how?"

Asad handed him an unmarked envelope. "Details are inside. Be there."

"I will," Reinhardt said gruffly. His tone obviously indicated that the conversation was over. Asad turned and pulled open the door, stepping outside into the cold and dark. It didn't take long for him to fade out of Reinhardt's sight.