Chapter 3

Moonlight was filtering through the broken windows of the church, creating long dark shadows on the dusty floor. Ovidiu was waiting, his red eyes spinning in his head as he tried to break contact with one of his queen triads.

Three bald skinny creatures which moved so lightly that they appeared to be floating, made their way towards him just as he started to come back to himself.

‘We have returned.’ the creatures murmured in unison as they approached the throne that now stood in the altar’s stead, their dark robes sweeping the floor.

Ovidiu smiled. He was tired, but it was nearly time.

‘Do we have enough drones now?’, he asked.

‘Yes, our love.’ the creatures hissed. ‘But you will need more queens. We are not enough to control them.’ 

‘We shall get more queens then.’

‘What about your grandmother? Will she get out of the way?’

‘No, she won’t.’ He spoke. He would’ve liked her to join him, but he knew her too well. She would never concede. ‘It is all according to plan.’

‘What will you do with the others? How will you make them listen to you?’

‘With fear. Fear is the only thing they listen to.’

‘They listened to Dracula.’

‘Because they were afraid of him. No one had the courage to stand up to him. He was ruthless and cruel. A real leader.’ Ovidiu shook his head. ‘My father could have never surpassed him. That’s why when Vlad decided to leave, instead of rising to the occasion, my father took the easy route. He killed Vlad. Under his rule, we’ve become aimless, like headless chickens.’

‘Coward. Fraud.’ the queens spat.

‘Yes. If my father is still alive, I will make sure to find him. I will teach him fear. I will teach them all what fear really means.’ He said with shaky breath. He closed his eyes and let out a strained breath. ‘Now go and find me more queens. Bring them to me so we can finally be complete.’

‘Of course, our love.’

***

Elena locked the door of the office. She didn’t want them to be interrupted, or their conversation to be overheard, so she pointed to the sofa so they could speak quietly.

‘Sit down.’ She said and he sat down with an expression of concern etched on his face. She sighed, and started to play with her hands, her fingers intertwined and thumbs rolling around each other. She only did that when she was really anxious.

‘Where do I start?’ she asked.

‘Maybe with whom the warning is from?’ he suggested.

‘Remember Peter’s son, Ovidiu?’

‘Vaguely.’

‘Well, he remembers you. He worships you.’

Vlad opened his mouth to protest, but Elena cut him off.

‘I know. I know you don’t like it, but you do tend to have quite an impact on people.’

He shook his head, but let it go.

‘Ovidiu wants to attack the humans.’ she said.

‘I cannot begin to express how stupid that is.’

‘I had this exact same conversation with him on various occasions.’

‘So, what does he want? Does he want you to join him?’ he asked.

‘No. He wants me out of the way.’ She paused. ‘And he wants your blood.’

So, this was why she wanted him to keep his identity hidden. He shifted his position on the couch. Her uneasiness rubbing up on him.

‘He thinks I have a stash of your blood hidden somewhere, but if he finds out you’re alive …’ she stopped and placed her hand on his shoulder, not sure if she was getting her point across. ‘He is strong, Vlad. And he has an army. With your blood he would be able to control anyone he wants.’

Vlad had to let the gravity of the situation sink in.

‘I can’t stop him, if that’s what you want me to do.’

‘This is not your mess to clean. So, no. That’s not what I want from you.’ She sat up, and started pacing. ‘What I need you to do is to keep Joanna and Adrian safe.’

‘Are you sure I’m the right person for that?’ he asked warily.

She stopped and looked straight at him. ‘Without a doubt.’ He looked back at her, surprised she still trusted him.

‘Stay close to them in case there’s another attack. They can handle themselves in a fight, but I’d feel more at ease if you would be there to watch their back. And I also want you to keep that man out of my house.’ She had put an accent on that last sentence, but Vlad was confused about which man.

‘Who?’ he asked narrowing his eyes, and she started pacing again.

‘Michael. My granddaughter’s … suitor.’

Vlad almost laughed at the look of distaste on her face.

‘Isn’t she old enough to handle her suitors?’ he asked.

‘She’s young. She’s only 33. And she’s in love.’

‘She’s not that young.’

‘Yes, I am aware I was married with child at her age. I do remember. But … that is not the problem. The problem is he has an agenda.’

‘You think he has ulterior motives for dating her?’

‘Oh, I’m sure he does. I just wish she would see that.’

‘You can’t control who people fall in love with.’ He said.

She sat down. She almost agreed with him, but then her face lit up like she had the biggest realization.

‘We’ll see about that.’ she smiled.

‘I’m not going to kill him, if that’s what you’re planning.’ he said jokingly.

‘That pleasure I reserve to myself. You just make sure he doesn’t get too comfortable in this house while I’m away.’

‘I think I can handle that.’

‘Good, now go tell those kids I need to talk to them.’

***

Vlad closed the door behind him. Adrian and Joanna were talking on the sofa, and they both turned their heads towards him when he entered the living room.

‘Your grandmother wants to talk to you.’ Vlad told them, then tried to go back to his room, but to his dismay, Adrian called to him.

‘I want to talk to you first.’ He said.

‘Of course.’ Vlad replied and stopped. Seeing he didn’t make another move Adrian jumped over the sofa’s backrest and faced the man. Joanna didn’t move. She preferred letting her brother handle these things.

‘I don’t feel comfortable having you in this house.’ Adrian said and leaned on the sofa.

Vlad folded his arms. ‘Neither am I, but none of us have much of a choice now, do we?’

‘Yeah. That’s why I need to know that my sister and grandmother will be safe.’

‘I appreciate the concern you have for your family, but I can assure you I have no interest in harming any of you.’  

‘You have no interest? What’s that supposed to mean?’ Adrian asked with an exasperated laugh. Vlad looked him straight in the eyes.

‘It means that I could, but I won’t.’

Adrian’s laugh fell flat. The man’s silver gaze made him feel like an insect. The feeling was so visceral he felt a lump in his throat.  

‘I’m not your enemy.’ Vlad continued, softer now. ‘I’m here to help. As much as I can.’

‘All right.’ Adrian said, but not a lot of conviction was left in his voice.

‘Your grandmother is waiting for you.’

‘Yeah, right…’ Adrian said and made a sign to his sister to follow him to the office. Vlad looked after them for a while, then when he was alone, he let out a heavy sigh. He had to control himself, being aggressive towards them would do no good to anyone. He took a moment to collect himself then went back to his room.

In the other room, Elena sat her grandkids down at her desk. She knew they had questions, and she hated lying to them, but telling the truth came at a steep price. A price she was not willing to let anyone but herself pay.

‘Grandma … what’s going on?’ Joanna asked. There was worry in her voice and it made Elena sad.

‘I have to invoke the council.’

Silence fell over the room.

‘Is there really no other way?’ Adrian asked.

‘I’m afraid not.’ Here it was, the lie.

‘Do you think you’ll be able to stop him?’

‘We have to.’

‘What if you can’t.’

‘We have to try, or he’ll get us all killed.’

‘Maybe we can still reason with him.’ Adrian offered.

‘He tried to kill you, child. For Heaven’s sake, what is there to reason?’

‘I know … I’m sorry.  I just don’t want you to get killed, that’s all.’

‘If I die, I will finally go to Hell and see your grampa.’

‘What if he’s not in Hell.’ Joanna asked.

Elena smiled. ‘Oh honey, he’s there all right. Very few are actually worthy to go to Heaven, and your grampa was no saint.’ she said all serious.

‘So, what’s next?’ Adrian tried to change the subject.

‘Before I even talk to Camellia, I need to make sure all the other elders here will join, or she won’t even consider it. Jo, please let Michael know I need to talk to his father. I will talk to Marius and Ilinca.’

‘And me?’

‘You can try and find out where those ferals that attacked you came from and how many there are. Maybe we can get at least an idea of what we’re fighting against.’

‘Sure.’ Adrian agreed.

‘Please take William with you.’

‘What?’ Adrian jumped to his feet. ‘No.’

‘It’s non-negotiable.’

‘He’s dangerous.’

‘Exactly.’

Her answer left Adrian perplexed. He looked at his grandmother then at his sister, then back at his grandmother. He wanted to protest, but the words he wanted to say didn’t find their way out of his mouth. So, it wasn’t just a feeling he had earlier.

‘If he’s so dangerous, why …’

‘Because he is the only ally I have left. The only one I can trust. And I know with certainty he will not let anything happen to you, with the risk of his own safety.’

‘How can you be so sure?’ he asked.

‘Because he is a good man. He’s proved it to me, and he will prove it to you. So, please do what I ask of you. We don’t have time to waste.’