Chapter 3: Mingling With the Enemy

CHAPTER 3

 

Kaileena did not like the idea of having a vampire in her home. She liked it even less that it was a vampire covered in an innocent girl’s blood. It was as though having him here insulted Samantha’s memory. But since he was her only link to finding Elizabeth’s whereabouts, she bore the indignity on the chin. Hurrying the vampire inside, she shut the door and bolted it before flitting to the windows and shutting the curtains. Thrusting her cell phone in front of Constantine, her glare bored holes into him.

‘Make it quick.’

Constantine made to protest but her deadpan expression told he was one breath away from being sent back in a cremation urn. Shakily, he leaned over and touched a few numbers into the phone with his nose. Within a matter of seconds, a shrill dial tone filled the room.

‘Set it on speaker,’ she ordered flatly.

‘But-‘

‘Do it.’ Her words came out in a snarl and he was cowed to silence. He pressed the small speaker icon in the right hand side of the phone. Static edged the ringtone and they waited.

There was a click before someone answered. ‘Who is this?’

‘It’s- it’s Constantine, my Lord,’ said the vampire dutifully, though his voice trembled at the sibilant tones.

‘Why are you not contacting me from the cell I so generously provided?’ The voice went from the consistency of smooth velvet to brittle and cold, like glass encased in winter frost. Already, the vampire lord on the other end of the receiver was less than pleased.

‘I-it sustained water damage.’ Which was actually true. When the vampire had attempted to contact his lord on the phone going up the staircase, the device had sparked and then fizzled out. Even vampire technology had not yet achieved what all electronic devices vied for; one hundred percent waterproofing.

‘In the middle of London?’ The inquiry was put forth crisply. Kaileena glanced from the phone to Constantine and saw he was the pallor of true death. His lips trembled and a fresh stain bloomed on his trouser front. She sighed in frustration and disgust. Time to step in.

‘Even in this city, water is aplenty for slaking the thirst,’ she said softly. There was a coughing and gasping on the other end of the line.

‘Who is that with you, Constantine?,’ the vampire lord demanded sharply. Constantine shook his head vigorously.

‘What the hell are you doing?!’ he hissed. Kaileena glared him into silence before turning her attention back to the cell phone.

‘My name is Kaileena Rose. I wish to request an audience with the head of the Dracului’s containment sector.’

‘That would be me,’ answered the voice curtly. ‘What business does the Death Rose have with me?’ A sneer could now be heard within his baritone chords. A vampire’s arrogance clearly knew no bounds.

‘I am having difficulty locating a mark I’ve been hunting for some time, ‘she replied. ‘I’m hoping you could allow the use of your resources to find her. Unless you want your servant returned to you in a matchbox.’

The vampire lord laughed, a long drawn cacophony of harsh, shattering inflections of tone. She waited him out, her expression still as a pool of ice. He finally stopped but that mirthless laughter still rang in his voice. ‘I see. Well, I will only access those archives to locate her myself. I don’t need a Vampire Hunter doing my job.’ She swore she could hear a whisper of a grin in his words. ‘Nevertheless, I cannot hunt without additional information, in spite of my servant’s incompetence. Who is the mark you’re pursuing?’

‘Countess Elizabeth Bathory.’

 

There was a very long silence, shattered by the sound of breaking glass on the other end of the line. There was flurry of panicked voices before the sharply hissed words of the vampire lord silenced the whispered din.

 

‘Why would I disclose information on Elizabeth?’ he said softly, the tone of his voice enough to send chills down her spine. Chills of pleasure or fear, she could not say, but it was enticing to think the prior. She pushed the thoughts roughly aside, glaring openly at the cell phone.

 

‘Suggestions will not work on me, vampire,’ said the dhampir flatly. ‘Where is Elizabeth?”

 

‘Even if I knew, I would not tell you, mortal,’ spat the vampire lord. He was clearly starting to become irate with his unwelcome caller.

 

‘Then perhaps we can come to a mutual arrangement?’ The suggestion was put forth in her most reasonable tone, but it seemed only to irritate the vampire further.  Even over the phone, the aura of arrogance and contempt was tangible. Whoever this person was, he was clearly no fledgling Turned.

‘Very well,’ he said finally, his voice faintly tinny. She must have either be reaching the range of his phone or her reception was ready to drop out again. She hated mortal technology. ‘There is a formal ball tomorrow night at nine pm. I will meet there personally.’

 

‘A ball?’ The dhampir’s lips curled in a distasteful grimace. The vampire lord must have heard for his tone suddenly became vested with authority.

 

‘It is a masquerade to celebrate the sesquicentenary of our reign. You wish for my assistance? Then you will meet me there. In appropriate attire. I will not have my evening ruined by some miscreant blazing guns.’

 

Kaileena bit back a sigh. She had no choice but to agree to the terms. Already this was beginning to sound like a bad idea. ‘Fine. How do I find you?’

 

‘You won’t. I will find you.’ With that, the line went dead, terminating the conversation. She sighed and glanced at Constantine. The vampire shrank back and cowered, shutting his eyes and expecting the death blow to fall. When it didn’t come, he opened one eye to squint at her. She stood there watching the vampire disparagingly.

 

‘Do you know the location of the ball?’ she asked. The vampire nodded. ‘You’re going to take me there.’ It was not a question but Constantine nodded anyway. She grabbed the vampire by the arm and shoved him into a hollow space between her bookshelves. Touching an emblem engraved into the stone- twin serpents meeting and entwining over crossed swords- a panel slid shut on the dumbstruck night stalker.

 

‘Hey! Hey! You can’t just leave me here!’ he protested, his voice muffled. Kaileena said nothing. Instead, she set her weapons down on the table, grabbing a couple of silver stakes and sliding them into the pocket of her jacket. That done, she picked up her keys and wallet and strode to the door, ignoring the vampire’s incessant fist-pounding.

 

‘Hey! Where the hell do you think you’re going?’

‘To find something to wear.’ She disappeared into the dawn, shutting the door behind her. It was going to be a long night.

                       ~*~

According to Constantine, the Dracului Sesquicentenary Masquerade Ball was being held at the Tepes Memorial Hall, just east of Carnaby Street. The hall had been constructed back in 1888 when the undead Romanian prince had solved the case of infamous Jack the Ripper. Or so the rumours went. Actually he had funded the investigation and in that sense become an avid advocate for Scotland Yard. Though the mortal prince had been ‘executed’ back in 1462, the vampire monarch was still, in an obscure sense, very much alive. It was ironic, really. Vlad the Impaler, the notorious Dracula of a mortal’s horror fiction and the recent Vampire King, solving one of the most heinous crimes of the Victorian era.

 

It was almost as ironic as the Dracului holding a celebration to commemorate a century and a half of their reign. It was like they were congratulating themselves on all the maiming, torture and killing conducted for the sake of their carefully balanced and twisted government. For that was what they were, the revered Vampire High Council. The overseers of the undead race and the ones who wrote the code by which all vampires lived. Or most of them anyway.  From what the dhampir knew, it consisted of thirteen members, the last of which remained a mystery even to the vampiric population. But since they were keeping the vampires in check, she couldn’t storm in on them in daylight with guns blazing. Without leadership, they were no better than wild beasts thirsting for human blood. Better to keep a leash on them until she was certain she could take them out without reprisals. It was her prime goal, aside from destroying Elizabeth. That particular monarch she would gladly kill for her own twisted pleasure. She had lived five hundred years to track down the Blood Countess. She was not going to waste a single opportunity. Even it meant throwing herself to the wolves to gain information.

 

Kaileena fought the urge to laugh at her haphazard hostage as she stepped out of Constantine’s car. How the vampire had managed to turn on the ignition and steer with only stumps for hands had been interesting to watch, not to mention comical. But they’d made it in one piece, much to the Vampire Hunter’s dismay. She’d been secretly hoping they would end up in an accident; anything to get her out wearing the portable torture devices known as stiletto heels.

 

She was a vision in dark red silk and shimmering black lace. The skirt was split up one leg for ease of movement and the corset-style bodice was cinched tight enough to accentuate her curves without cracking her ribs. At least I can breathe, she thought gratefully, brushing strands of hair away from her mask. The hall before her was an opulent display of Roman Gothic architecture with flashes of Victorian elegance. But as she entered the building, she could not help a twinge of admiration at the interior design. The function area was lavishly decorated with damask furniture with gold accents. Lush velvet drapes of maroon and scarlet hung from the ceiling and draped the black marble pillars. Accents of pure gold decorated the walls and sheer veils of shimmering gold organza obscured the dining table laden with a buffet of international delicacies. It looked like a scene straight from Phantom of the Opera; opulent and stunningly elegant. And it seemed the theme tonight for the throng of musicians and choirs on the far side were all masked.  All the vampire community was there in their best finery. It was a truly ostentatious event.

 

The hall flooded with whispers of music that rose to a crescendo of melody and the entire court was on their way. Blurs and swirls of colour swam before her eyes as the dancers weaved in and out of each other, their steps fluidly and elegantly executed in feline grace. The Viennese Waltz, the one dance she was hardly proficient in.

 

‘May I have this dance, my lady?’ The voice caused the dhampir to whirl around, almost tripping over the long skirt. Facing her was a tall and elegant gentleman with long black hair and ice blue eyes. He was clad in a long black coat accented with silver, black high boots and a crisp white shirt with a high collar. A red silk-lined cloak completed the attire. He had his hand outstretched, the skin slightly paler than the cuff above it. Kaileena glanced at his hand briefly before taking it. She was greatly surprised by the strength exhibited in that one hand, enough to bench press a car. Even third-level masters weren’t that strong. He led her onto the dance floor, gripping her gloved hand and placing his other on her waist. She noted the ring on his finger. It bore the same symbol as Constantine’s tattoo.

 

‘You’re the one I spoke to on the phone,’ said Kaileena calmly, allowing herself to be swept into the dance, her feet automatically tapping out the steps. She was not the best dancer in the world, and at best she was little clumsy. But for some reason, around this man her abilities were honed to perfection, making it seem as though it was natural. There was something about this vampire that not only made her hair stand on end, but also in some twisted way mesmerised her. And that was a very bad feeling. No vampire should have been able to do that to her so easily.

 

‘Correct.’ His voice was smooth and deep with a rasp to it. It glided down her spine like a lover’s caress but still held enough bite to keep her focused. He was not trying to seduce her, not that she wanted it anyway. ‘And you are Miss Kaileena Rose. I never thought in a million years that such a pretty young thing could be the product of a damned union. But it does not seem to matter; damned or not, all mortals are no better than dogs.’

 

‘Watch your tongue around me before I rip it out,’ said Kaileena coldly.

 

‘Not before I rip out yours, my lady.’ The address was edged with mockery and distaste. But it seemed he had no idea as to what she really was. At least my normal defences and barriers are still working, she thought.

 

‘Enough of this. I would have your name and any information pertaining to Elizabeth Bathory’s location.’ She wanted to stake the b*****d right then and there, but it would not help her find her target. If anything, she wanted to at least avoid complicating her situation. For now at least.

 

‘And I would give you both because?’ The vampire was toying with her now. She bit back a string of explicit insults and calmed down. How was it that this man was getting under her skin so easily?

 

‘As I said before, I would like to come to a mutual agreement. Perhaps we can work together to hunt her down?’ She couldn’t believe she was actually suggesting that!

 

‘I? Work with you?’ The vampire lord laughed. He spun her around and pressed his hand into her lower spine. Leaning into her, he dipped her low enough to bend her back at an almost ninety degree angle. She was thankful for her flexibility or this would have been very painful. The vampire leaned in close enough to breathe in her scent, his lips brushing the hollow of her clavicle. Her breath hitched in her throat and she glared at him. She should have been pushing him off right now, not allowing….this! What the hell is he DOING to me?!

 

‘Perhaps, there is some sort of use in such an arrangement.’ His breath whispered across her skin. Every vampire carried a distinctive signature scent that could be used to track them if they went rogue. When that vampire turned a victim or birthed an heir to their legacy, that same scent lingered on them until they matured or their master was slain. The aroma of chocolate, roses and red wine assaulted her senses, driving her to the realms of forbidden lust. She shook herself out of the barrage of fantasies that threatened to ensnare her.

 

‘What kind of arrangement?’ she asked crisply. The vampire lord laughed.

 

‘I will help you but you must work for me,’ he said, his smirk flashing fang. ‘If you do this, I will personally help you track down Elizabeth.’

 

Kaileena bit her tongue hard enough to taste blood. She wanted to say exactly what she thought of working with a vampire, but this was the best lead she’d ever had. What better resource on her prey than the prey themselves? Besides, after the job was done, she could simply wipe out the Dracului if they gave her grief. Two birds with one stone.

 

‘Your name,’ she demanded flatly. The vampire laughed once again as he brought her upright. He gently grasped her hand and twirled her so her back was turned to him. She could feel his lean body press against hers and she fought the urge to moan softly as he pressed his lips to her neck. He may have been an arrogant b*****d, but he certainly knew how to make a woman melt in his arms. And she was damn near close to doing just that, and this was only her first encounter with the vampire lord. Damn him!

 

‘Persistent, aren’t you?’ he chuckled. ‘Very well, allow me to introduce myself.’ The music stopped as if on cue and he released her. Kaileena turned to see him acknowledge her with a graceful sweeping bow. It was hard to believe this man was the head of such a dangerous sector of government. She began to wonder if this was all an elaborate joke.

 

‘Lord Vincent Angelus at your service,’ he said, raising his hand towards her with a flash of fang. ‘And you are at mine, I presume?’

 

The dhampir sighed but inclined her head anyway.

 

‘Yes. I am at your service.’ She fairly gritted the words out as she met his gaze squarely. ‘So, where do we start?’

 

The answer came in an explosion of shattering glass several feet above them.