Chapter 19:
-Erika's Investigation-
Erika also left Detroit, but decided not to join Kathleen, because she probably had the effect of a magnet on Kraven and lead him straight away to her would and Alex. She had deceived Kraven, he had deceived them all. Blindly, she had trusted him and sold her body and blood and that was the thank, that he had only used her as a spy. She didn't come over it so easily since she had served him since she was a vampire and more. She moved into a small village outside of Los Angeles. She was not alone. She could organize a few loyal friends and also a handful Death Dealer. It were such ones which never had the guts to oppose themselves against the elder or against Kraven, now, they were free, however they knew, as long as Kraven was free, the war wasn't over. Erika sat in he office, studied old artefacts which she lifted additional from the Mansion. She couldn't find much. nothing what pointed to the Corvinus clan. half of the bumph she gave to Kathleen, to ease them the work for a little bit. From time to time she spoke to Kathleen to inquire about how she was, then after all she hasn't been a vampire for a long time and she was thrown into this situation without asking for it. Kathleen still clang too much at the human . She was weakly even if one thought about it that she was descended from the same blood like Michael. Ah Michael. the innocent Samaritan. Once, he was equally like Kathleen. He devoted too much to his humanely side and almost cost his live against Viktor. To one third, he was still a human being and this because Kathleen was still alive. His care and pity for her as she was dieing was stronger than his two other halves. He was really fascinating. Erika thought back on the moment as she saw him the first time, in the Mansion, in Selene's office. A human being lay asleep without consciousness on the couch, really confused what had happened with him. The strand hair which she stroke from his face and then the bit sore one his left shoulder. The poor boy became hunted without knowing what his fate was. No wonder that he left confused this at that time the building and he seemed still to be confused, but he wasn't the boy anymore she met the first time. His confusions had fatal consequences even if he wasn't aware of it. This made him unpredictable and since Selene death, he was emptier than ever. He had nothing more left for what it rewarded to lead an eternal lifeShe could understand this.The vampires live to track down the Lycans, however, the Lycans live to hunt people, but Michael the hybrid what wanted he?There were no challenges in his life as the life itselfDoes he exist to wipe out both species? Or does he exist to unify both? She saw nothing of both, except that he would tear off a vampire's head without hesitating and turns a Lycan's neck and that he doesn't participate older in any exceptionErika really wanted to help him to understand him and why there is such an union of the species, but she was in the fog. It's enough to drive one to despair. She put her head on the table into the crossed arms and closed her eyes. A continually question hiked always through her head: why did she help Michael? probably because he had rescued her, that was the simplest answer, but there was more. She liked him however this would be a betrayal on Selene and she knew, that Michael's feelings beat for her.
"Oh Erika, you are a dreamer." she said to herself.
That she really was. Michael knew her and knew, that one could not trust her, anyway from his sight what he all heard, he also knew, however, that she had changed.He had ordered his two Lycans to also take care of her, she didn't think it was necessary and merely waste of time for the two if she knew, that Kathleen needed them most. Erika had her people and that was enough for her. She could take care of herself very well. She was tired, a sign, that the sun began to rise. Finally, a black book tied in leather got between her fingers. Immediately, she straightened up and looked at it. Strangely that she hasn't noticed it earlier.Probably, she held it for inconsequential how this just looked like. There were a few pages missing and some were torn, the cover was stained with dried blood like also burned. This small book, probably had rather undergone much. Carefully, she tried to page it through.All was written in an old language and only few sketches existed. It took Erika a while until she had found a way to decipher the written. Now, she really could postpone her sleep and start a day-shift. As she opened the first page, she could determine a coat of arms, which she never had seen before but it was drawn in the same old style as the symbols of the Vampire Elder. A Celtic C decorated with a Celtic eagle. But for what was the C? She started to read as well as she could. What she/ understood with certainty, were the two Latin words NOSFERATU and LYCAN what stood for vampire and werewolf. She tried to read further.She noticed data which reached back more than thousand years into the past. God, it was the history of the oldest days of the vampires and Lycans. Then there was a page which has been blurred and it was impossibly to decipher it. The half day had passed already again and gave her already a headacheShe needed food and rest. After long deciphering she found a name which took her breath. She didn't know whether she should could consider herself lucky that she had found something and to be able to help Michael or rather the opposite. One thing she had learned in all these years as vampire: to dig in the past was forbidden and for a good reason.It was confusing and could bring such disaster on yourself. She didn't know whether she should report her finding to Kathleen or not, but she hold it for her duty to inform her with everything she could find. Pity, that she didn't know how she could reach Michael, otherwise she would have told it personally to him. She seized the phone, dialled a number and let it rings.