Chapter 2

Joanna has been pacing around for about half an hour now and it was getting on her brother’s nerves.

‘Can you sit still for a bloody moment? You’re like a fly caught between the windowpanes, and just as annoying.’ he said rubbing his temples as he threw his phone on the table in front of him. She debated giving him a piece of her mind, but settled on only throwing him an angry look. There was no point in arguing, sometimes she was left with the impression that he didn’t care much about anything or anyone. Perhaps it was because he was almost 100. Maybe you stopped caring after a while.

‘He won’t hurt her.’ Adrian said, trying to get her to calm down.

‘How do you know?’

‘Because she wouldn’t have gone otherwise.’

The sound of the front door opening cut the argument short. Elena stepped inside, deep in thought. She hadn’t even noticed the light was already on and flipped the switch. She was surprised when the room was swallowed by darkness. When she turned the light back on, she was met with the faces of her grandchildren staring at her.

‘Are you alright, grandma?’ Joanna asked.  

‘Yes, honey, I’m fine.’

‘You don’t look alright.’ Adrian said.

‘I’m just thinking.’

‘Did he ask for an alliance again?’

Adrian was there in 2010, 72 years ago, when Ovidiu asked Elena to help him. And he remembered very clearly how his grandma very sternly said no, and the list of reasons why she said it. He never understood why she let him get away with it. It was so unlike her.

Elena sighed and started playing with her fingers.

‘He’s past alliances.’ She said. ‘I believe he doesn’t need me or anyone anymore. He just wants to make sure I’m not standing in his way.’ she said.

They all stared at each other; it wasn’t exactly what they expected. What everyone expected was for him to give up after almost everyone repeatedly refused to help him.

‘So, what are you going to do?’ Joanna asked.

‘I’m going to stand in his way. I just need to figure out how exactly I’m going to do that.’

The doorbell rang and it startled all of them.

‘I’ll get it.’ Joanna said and went to the door. When she opened it, a man, a human man, was looking back at her, just as confused as she was.

‘May I help you?’ she asked the man when she saw he wasn’t saying anything.

‘Ah, yes … I’m looking for Elena Vlăsie.’ he said. She looked at her grandmother keeping the door only slightly ajar so he wouldn’t see inside unless her grandmother gave her the heads up, but the old woman shook her head as if to tell her she had no idea who he was. She was definitely not waiting for anyone, but she gestured to Joanna to let him in.

Adrian, which was playing on his phone until then, raised to his feet to looked at the man and asses if he was any danger to his family. He looked well built, but well past his prime, judging by the faint wrinkles and short, greying hair. Handsome face, but the steely eyes were a bit unnerving. He would say he looked to be about 55 years old, maybe a bit younger if he would shave the grizzled stubble. Not much time left on that mortal clock, and not much of a challenge for a vampire his age, so he sat back down.

Elena looked at the man with confusion at first.

‘Hello, Elena.’ He said and a flash of recognition crossed her face. She froze on the spot not able to mutter a single word. She looked like what she was seeing wasn’t quite real.

‘I’m sorry to pop in uninvited, but I needed to bring you this.’ He said and reached into his backpack. He retrieved a round silver box from it and presented it to her. The lid was adorned with a beautiful coiled dragon.  

‘What’s that?’ Adrian asked, again paying attention to what was happening.

‘Vlad Dracula’s ashes.’ Elena replied, taking the box from the man’s hands. She understood the message behind it, but she still couldn’t believe what was happening. ‘Follow me to the library, please.’ She told the man and headed towards the room.

‘Wait, grandma, who is he?’ Joanna said trying to stop her, but Elena didn’t turn to face her.

‘A friend.’ She replied, the word friend was strained and hallow.

***

Elena closed the door behind them looking at the box in her hands. She wanted to say something, but the words didn’t come. It was unusual for her to be at such a loss for words. She paced a bit before placing the small urn on a desk nearby.  

‘You’re alive.’ she finally addressed him as she sat down in an armchair and gestured for him to do the same.

‘You know I cannot die.’ he replied. His voice was as gentle as she remembered.

‘No.’ she argued back ‘I truly believed they killed you, Vlad. It’s been so long I no longer had hope I would ever see you again.’

‘I wish that were true.’ He whispered, letting out a small, strained laugh. ‘What they did was much worse. When I got out of that box, I couldn’t even remember who I was.’ 

‘How did you get out?’

‘I think someone dropped the urn while it was being moved. They got careless, I guess. It cracked. Only a bit, but … enough for my ashes to get out and reform. I don’t remember much of what happened after. Just rage and hunger. The rest is just a blur.’

‘I almost didn’t recognize you.’ she said.

‘I haven’t used my vampire form in a while.’

‘How long?’ she asked, knowing full well that their human forms aged and scared just like human bodies did. And she never seen any of them age so much before. His once long and dark hair was now cut short and almost white, and fine wrinkles adorned his eyes, mouth, and forehead.

‘Since I got out … seven years ago.’ he confessed.

‘Seven years ago?’ she asked. That’s how long Peter, her son, has been missing. She thought the Order had broken their promise and killed him too in the end, but now … ‘That box isn’t empty, is it?’

‘No, it is not.’ he replied pointing his gaze at the floor.

‘That’s why you’re here.’ she said with sad realization.

‘You deserved to know what happened to your son. I’m not here to seek forgiveness. I don’t deserve it.’ He paused. ‘That’s not to say I don’t regret it. Even if he did what he did.’

Peter had betrayed him. He was the one to slit Vlad’s throat then set him on fire while he was taking his last breath. He was there when they sealed him in the urn, he wanted to see it, to make sure they did it right.

It made Vlad blind with rage. And that’s all he had in that box for more than a century. Just remembering it, made him feel it’s residues. He balled his hands into fists to stop them from shaking.  

Elena saw it and her old, green eyes softened. ‘He stopped being my son a very long time ago. As much as his death pains me, I’m sorry for what he did.’

‘He made his own choices.’ he said shaking his head. ‘And even so … I didn’t have to kill him.’

‘His death was long overdue. You gave us a second chance at life, it was only fair that you would take it away.’

While what she said was true, it felt wrong. What he gave them wasn’t a gift, or a second chance. He knew he had condemned them all to hell.

‘I’m grateful that you brought him home.’ She said a and bowed her head slightly. She hoped he understood that she wasn’t angry at him.

‘It was the honourable thing to do.’

‘Always a man of honour.’ She thought.

‘What did you do for seven years?’ she asked.

‘Everything I could to hold on to whatever humanity I have left. I didn’t really stay in one place. The world changed so much in 100 years, I had to do a lot of reading to get to a form of understanding of what is going on.’

Elena nodded. The advance of technology has been indeed lightning fast. That’s why she tried to keep herself as far away as she could from the city and their lights, their drones, and their face recognition software.

‘What do you plan to do next?’

‘I …’ he said and shook his head. ‘I don’t know. I’m beyond plans at this point, I guess.’

‘Why don’t you stay?’ she offered.

‘That won’t be possible. I’m not safe to be around.’

‘Is that why you haven’t turned?’

‘I killed a lot of people when I last turned. I’m afraid I’m no longer in control.’

‘And you think being all alone will help with that?’

Vlad clenched his jaw. As much as he wanted to disagree, she was right. The last few years haven’t been any better than being stuck in that box. Just him and his thoughts.

‘Stay.’ she said. ‘And if I feel you’re any danger, I will kick you out myself.’

Vlad laughed. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad idea, maybe company would provide enough of a distraction to keep his mind busy.

‘All right.’ he agreed. ‘But I don’t want anyone to know I am here.’

‘If you think you can keep your identity a secret, I can live with that.’

‘I can do that.’

‘What should we call you then?’

‘I’ve been going for William Card.’

She smiled. ‘Ok, William. Then let’s get you a room. We both need some rest.’

He rose from the chair and offered her his arm to help her, then they headed for the exit.

‘William Card?’ she asked as they reached the door. ‘I’m surprised you didn’t use Alexander as your first name.’

‘I did consider it.’ he replied and smiled. ‘Is it too on the nose?’

They both started laughing.

‘A bit. Just a bit.’   

***

Joanna – who was still in the living room, reading, when the two exited the library – was surprised to see the change in dynamic.

‘Glad to see the doom and gloom have left the building.’

Joanna noticed how her grandmother, who clearly did not expect her to still be there, was trying to regain her usual composure, with very little success.

‘I told you, love, he is a friend. I was just surprised to see him.’

‘Alright.’ she said, but one could tell she wasn’t convinced.

‘Can you take him to the spare room, please?’ They didn’t have a guest room, but they did have a spare room after Adrian decided to move out.

‘Wait, he’s staying with us?’

‘Yes, he’s going to stay for a while. Even if he’s not very fond of the idea.’

‘So, you don’t let Michael spend the night, but you let … a guy I’ve never seen before, stay?’ Joanna said.

Elena could hear the resent in her tone, but she expected it.  

‘Michael is welcome to visit, but not to stay. His dream of ‘having you’ in my house is not something I will indulge.’

Joanna gritted her teeth, but did not reply back. Her grandma did not approve of her boyfriend, so there was no point in starting another argument. She had to be satisfied with the thought that this man, whoever he was, seemed to have lifted a heavy burden off her grandmother’s shoulders. She hasn’t seen her smile, truly smile, in ages, and now she was laughing.

She’d have to live with it, even though if Michael found out she would have to endure months of reproaches.

‘Come. I’ll show you the room.’ Joanna said, and her grandmother gratefully nodded her head.

Elena retreated for the night and the two headed towards the small staircase in the living room.

‘It’s just up the stairs.’ the young woman said, guiding him. When they reached the top of the stairs, she went to the first door on the left and opened it. The room wasn’t too big, and it was a bit empty since it has been vacated recently, but it was still cozy and clean.

 Once they were both inside, Joanna felt the need to apologize, she didn’t want to be rude, and if he was going to stay with them, she preferred avoiding any awkwardness.

‘I’m sorry for what I said earlier.’

He looked around the room, placing his backpack on a chair, and removing his leather jacket, then turned to face her.

‘If my presence upsets you in any way, let me know. I can find another place to stay.’

‘No, really. You are welcome to stay. That …’ she said referring to her comment earlier ‘That didn’t have anything to do with you. I’m Joanna, by the way.’ She said and extended her hand towards him.

‘William.’ He said and gently kissed her hand. It took her by surprise; it wasn’t something people did anymore. Not even the elders that her grandmother was still friends with. She smiled.

‘I … Before I leave, I have a question.’

‘Ok.’ he said, nodding his head a bit.

‘Why did grandma ask you to stay?’

He sighed. He was sure curing his loneliness wasn’t the only reason why she wanted him around, but he didn’t know yet what the real reason was. ‘Perhaps is better to ask her.’ he offered.

‘Then let me put it another way: why did you accept? It seemed, from what she said, that you didn’t want to at first.’

She could see him debate what to tell her.

‘I wronged her, and now I need to make up for it.’

He wasn’t lying, but he wasn’t exactly telling the whole truth either. This whole thing was wrapped in more layers than she thought. And he didn’t seem willing to unravel the mystery. She could try and force it a bit, but confrontation was not something she did well.

‘Yeah, that’s not exactly it … but I’ll take it.’

Vlad smiled in spite of himself. She seemed to have inherited her grandmother’s wit.

‘I don’t know what you did, but I haven’t seen grandma smile in a long time. So, thank you.’

He was taken aback by the appreciation. Before he knocked on that door, he was certain his presence would only bring grief. Especially with the news he was bringing. And even before this, they weren’t on the best of terms. It only made him question more why Elena wanted him here.

‘I’ll let you get settled.’ Joanna said and it broke his train of thought. ‘The bathroom is at the end of the hall. And if you need anything, I’m in the next room.’

***

It was still dark outside when the sound of the front door violently swinging open and someone crashing on the furniture and cursing, woke everyone up. Vlad’s eyes stung with fatigue, he only managed to sleep for two or three hours that night. He swung his body off the bed and went to the door to see what was going on.

When he got out of the room, Joanna was already halfway down the stairs.

‘Adrian, what the hell are you doing?’ she said in a hushed voice. ‘You’re waking everybody up.’

‘Ferals. Fucking ferals.’ the man downstairs panted. ‘They attacked me as I was coming back here.’

Joanna switched on the light and rushed down the stairs to check on her brother. He was sprawled on the floor, one hand on the coffee table, heavily wounded.

The woman cursed. There was blood everywhere.

‘We have to go to the infirmary.’ she told him as she inspected his wounds. They looked deep, and even Adrian, which healed a lot faster than most of the vampires, would have a rough time with them if they were left uncleaned and untreated.

‘Do you need help?’ Vlad asked as he came down the stairs.

‘No, I can handle him, but can you please go and get grandma? Her room is at the end of that hall.’ she said pointing to a hall next to the staircase he was still on. He nodded and went to do that.

Joanna grabbed her brother, swinging his arm around her neck, and dragging him to the infirmary.

‘What is he still doing here?’ Adrian asked between pants.

‘Grandma made him stay.’ She replied as she sat him on the infirmary bed.

‘What? Why?’

‘No idea. Trust me I have more questions than you do. Now sit still, I need to clean these up.’ she said and doused a wad of gauze in disinfectant. Adrian winced when the alcohol touched the raw meat.

‘Are you ok with him being here?’ he asked, his voice hitching every time she moved her hand. ‘If you want, I can come and live here until he’s gone.’

‘I don’t think you need to. He doesn’t feel like trouble, actually behaved like quite the gentleman.’

Adrian raised his brow and smiled.

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, Ady. I have a boyfriend.’

‘Like that ever stopped anyone.’

‘He’s human.’

‘He’s handsome.’

The door to the infirmary opened and Elena rushed inside.

‘What happened? Are you alright?’ she asked Adrian.

‘I’m … alive. A pack of ferals attacked me on the way back here. I didn’t see the “three stooges”, but they were there for sure.’

‘How do you know?’ Joanna asked.

‘The ferals were too coordinated, there’s no way they attacked by themselves. And there were A LOT of ferals.’

‘How many?’ Elena asked.

‘Fifteen, maybe twenty. I’ve killed a few, maybe four or five… They just stopped attacking after a while. I don’t know what that was, but they didn’t seem to want to kill me, because, trust me, they had the chance.’

‘It was a warning.’ Elena said in a quiet voice. ‘He wants to make sure we won’t interfere.’

Vlad was listening, he had the feeling he will find out very soon why he was here. And it confirmed when Elena placed her hand on the back of his arm.

‘I need to talk to you.’

The two brothers were again left alone. Confused and revolted, Adrian threw his arms in the air.

‘What the hell was that? Who is this guy?’

Joanna shook her head and went back to bandaging. She had a theory about it, but she had no proof, she had nothing but a feeling.

‘He comes out of nowhere and now he’s grandma’s best friend.’ Adrian ranted.

‘He told me he owes her. He didn’t seem very happy to be here either.’

‘You talked to him?’

‘Yeah.’ She replied. She had finished patching him up. Gathered all the supplies back in a box and went to the cabinet to put them where they belonged. ‘Only for a few minutes while I showed him the room.’

‘Did he say anything else?’

‘No. He didn’t. But he doesn’t seem to be a bad guy, Ady.’

‘You seem pretty convinced.’

‘I think he might be dying.’ she whispered.

‘Caught a sniff of him?’

Joanna nodded, then handed him a spare t shirt they were keeping in the infirmary just for such occasions.

‘Shit.’