Chapter 18

The taxi ride was quite. The poor driver was a nervous wreak, god bless him, and I could understand why. Nick had capped a majority of his awesome power once we had held a taxi among the chaos that was the Zurich airport. The termials were full of people screaming and saying things about terrorists and bombs. It had been a good diversion to allow us to get away without notice, though the run to the terminal had been unnerving. We had remained calm as we got in a taxi. I could see that the driver was sweating and his fingers were tap dancing in nervous energy on the steering wheel. He had no idea why he was scared but I knew. Nick could only subdue his power so much.

'How did you do it?' he asks suddenly.

I look over at him and realize he must have been staring at me for some time. I stare back and murmur, 'What do you mean?'

'My pilot. What did you do?'

He wouldn't let this go and I really didn't have an answer as I myself was unsure of how I did. So I answer truthfully, 'I don't know. I usually have to be in the presence of a person to do what I did. But...'

Nick interrupts me, 'I have deafened the driver to our words. Speak directly.'

I didn't argue and continue on, 'But, I'm not sure if it was fear induced, or something new budding inside me, I was able to see what he saw, glean from his mind what I needed, and insert what I desired for him to do.'

'It almost sounds like you have Dracul blood coursing through you. My blood that healed you just yesterday would not be enough for you to use then to such extent.'

I didn't say more, simply shrugged. He had turned me, though he was unaware, but not in the normal way of the phantoms. my mind echoing those words I remembered from centuries ago, but shaking from my mind. The driver pulled up to the address I had provided. It was a stately home, old, and something I had purchased nearly 150 years previously. Turning to Nick, I say quickly, 'Please try to restrain your powerful as much as you can.'

'Why?'

'Because the person we are about to meet is human. He is my secretary.'

For a moment the silence was blade sharp, but finally he nods, pays the driver, and we disembark. The old forest green door stood waiting as I felt the ever present blanket of Nick's power lift completely from me as it had only yesterday in his library. It made me want to gasp from relief. The power was such that it always felt like a strong hand was on the back of my neck, keeping me in check.

Walking up to the steps, I buzz the intercom. Moments pass and Nick says, 'He is inside. Humans, asleep so early.'

'They require it, as you well know.'

'How long has he been your secretary?'

"Four years,' I say absently as I buzz the intercom again.

Finally a hesitant voice comes from the box, 'H-Hello? Who is this?'

'Jerry, it's me.'

I expand my senses and finally catch the faint and far-off sound of Jerry's frantic heart beat and breathing. His quick steps as he rushed down a hall and flight of stairs. Finally the door opens and he is looking straight at me, 'Jesus... Nina! What the h...'

He instantly stops there when he sees Nick and says quickly, 'Who are you?!'

'This is Nick, Jerry. Can we please come in,' I say, looking around for possible ears.

Jerry let's out a haggard sigh and steps aside so we can come inside. I walk past Jerry and into the living room I remembered so well. It was hard to believe the furniture in this house was once new and was now very expensive antiques. I turn on the lights and finally Jerry asks, 'Ok Nina, what's going on?'

I turn to him and say, 'I understand your concerns Jerry. But I have a few quick questions before we get into the meat of your questions.'

Jerry hesitates for an instance, looks at Nick and with a sigh nods murmuring, 'How can I deny my boss. Go ahead zombie girl.'

I smile at him and look at Nick. Nick gave me a lifted brow in question to my nickname. My smile fades as I look back at Jerry asking in my now professional voice, 'How is the company?'

'Fine, about as confused as cannery in a coal mine though.'

'Good,' I murmur crossing my arms over my abdomen and continue, 'Who bought up my majority shares of the company?'

'Sad to say Berkawitz seems to see blood in the water and bought a majority of them. Some went to smaller companies and firms. It was amazing how quickly the company sold out. One day and everything your family built was gone.'

'So the world works,' I murmur and continue, 'Though I don't enjoy knowing that Berkawitz garnered a majority shareholding of my company. It's to be expected of a weasel like him.'

Jerry finally says, 'Alright, I know. Everyone was shocked that you suddenly sold out so soon after the merger. But since I have been ridiculously patient with all this shop talk will you please explain to me what happened?! Does it have to do anything with this Greek God of a man?!'

'I'm not Greek,' Nick says in a monotone.

'Oh great! A Russian! Does he have something to do with your disappearance?'

'He doesn't know does he?' Nick asks with surprise.

'No.' i murmur.

'How many do know in your fantasy life, clanless?'

Calling me a clanless was considered an insult to many in the Phantom world, but to me it was just another barrier I didn't let effect me as I say, 'Only one and he's dead.'

'The doctor?'

'Coroner actually.'

Jerry finally waves and says in a sarcastic voice, 'Hello, I'm right here! Will you PLEASE tell me what is going on?! Nina, I know something happened to you. I know your housekeeper and her daughter were killed. And some doctor?! What is going on?'

'Should I tell him?' Nick asks with a smirk on his face, seeming to enjoy this crossroads I had found myself.

'No, he's my PA, I'll do it.'

Nick nods, and sits down, sitting like the royal he was. I turn to Jerry, feeling butterflies. He had been my personal assistant and secretary for four years. All this time I had prepared for him to never know my secret but now it was time and I felt reluctant. Letting out a slow breath, I ask, 'Jerry what do you know about Irish mythos, or better yet Ivan the Impeller?'

Jerry gives me a cross, confused look and goes, 'Uh...'

'For all the vodka in Russia, tell him! He will never understand the absolute magnitude of our kind,' Nick growls.

Turning to Jerry, I say, 'Jerry, sit down.'

'What?'

'Sit down.'

'Nina just spit it out, I can handle whatever is going on.' Jerry says crossing his arms, trying to look tall and intimidating. It was almost laughable.

'I wanted to do this gently, but I guess I can't. Sit down Jerry, I don't want you to fall.'

This seems to catch Jerry off guard and he nods. He sits on the edge of the couch and gestures for me to continue. Closing my eyes, knowing from this moment on Jerry would never have a normal life, I say determinedly, 'I am a vampire.'

Jerry snorts and says, 'Yeah, right. Look Nina, I know you burn the candle at both ends, but we both know that vampires don't exist.'

He thought I was joking. Humans were predictable. Those I had told through the centuries had all reacted similarly and Nick asks, 'Should I show him?'

Quickly I turn to him and say, 'Back off Nicholi, I will handle this.'

His eyes go a little darker and I see a muscle pop in his jaw as he says, 'Interesting. Remember to whom you speak.'

I didn't have to be reminded but I know a show of his power could kill one of the last links to humankind I had. Nodding I turn back as Jerry asks, 'Who is this Russian bear? Is he the reason you sold your families company?!'

I laugh at this, as I sit opposite Jerry in a high backed chair and say, 'No Jerry. This man isn't a man at all. He is a vampire like me. But unlike me he wasn't... bitten but born a vampire.'

Jerry simply raises his brows, and asks in a way as to show he is unbelieving still, 'Really? Then what is he?'

'He is a Royal Pureblood, Nicholi Borchenski, leader or to soon be leader of the Russian vampire clan called Dracul.'

Jerry snorts and then bursts out laughing saying, 'Lord Nina, I know you are good, but this story is ridiculous. Dracul as in Dracula, you have got to be kidding me! Vampires don't exist! They are just a good story brought to you by Stokes.'

Suddenly I feel the prickle of hair on the back of my neck as I jerk my head around to see Nick, his power turning on slolwy like a faucet. He growls out in that darkness of his voice, 'We are real as the moon and stars. Older than mankind.'

He slowly stood and I look back at Jerry. His whole face had turned white, his mouth gapping open. Suddenly Nick was in front of him and leaning over him, moving faster than even my eyes could follow as he continues in a seething roar, 'Would you like me to show you how real we are?!'

'Nick! Don't!' I cry out, remembering a flash of my father's terrified face. A memory that would stay seared in my brain as I jerk out of my chair, sending it tumbling as I go to protect my human friend.