CHAPTER SIX - LEDA

“Yes Mr Ciobanu. Yes, the university would be very interested in this conference. Next week, yes. I’ll be there” 

A conference amongst the most esteemed colleagues in relation to the social impact of myths and folklore. I chuckled, what could possibly be better than this to take my mind of the crazy man who was convinced he’s a vampire? I mean, literally anything else, but at the same time I was grateful to be invited. This would be the feather in the cap of the university and to be the one invited to represent them, well. I felt like I was teetering on the edge of becoming one of these esteemed colleagues. I couldn’t help the happy grin that spread over my face. 

The doorbell went. Who’d be bothering me mid-afternoon? I hadn’t ordered anything...that I remembered anyway. 

I opened the door 

“Hel-” the smile froze on my face, and I felt myself start to scowl.

“Well,” came the low tone of a – Scandinavian? accent. “That’s the first time I’ve ever had that reaction quite so quickly” and his face split into a fairly endearing smile. 

The problem was, he was preternaturally pretty. Just like Whisky Eyes.

“There’s a first time for everything Pretty Boy. Who are you and do you have anything to with Whisky Eyes?”

“Pretty boy? Whisky eyes?” He smirked. “Do you make a habit of giving everyone such ridiculous nicknames?” 

“Only those mad enough to try telling me I’m destined to save the vampire race”

“Vampires?” he looked shocked. Oh shit. What have I done? Embarrassment flushed my cheeks...and neck...and I felt my chest burning. Have I made myself look crazy?!

“Um” I trailed off. Silence spun between us until Pretty Boy broke it with a deep chuckle.

“I jest. I am here about vampires, of course” 

I raised an eyebrow; this guy is awfully casual...arrogant even. “Oh, of course!” I answered, sarcastically. I crossed my arms and lent against the doorframe. “A very common topic of conversation.” 

He just smiled at me, as if amused. He can’t really be this insufferable? 

“Mm-hmm.” I started “So do I have to invite you in?”

“Well, that would be awfully kind of you.” He said, adjusting his coat; pulling it forward so it sat on his shoulders properly. “It would be very impolite if I were to enter without invitation, would it not?” 

I rolled my eyes. “Well then” I smiled, gleefully,

“It would seem I have one over on you then! Good day!” 

I shoved the door, intending for it to slam and turned to walk away. But there was no bang, only a hiss of pain from that general direction.

“What the -” I looked over my shoulder as Pretty Boy slowly pushed open the door; his foot had stopped it from closing fully.

“Great, another dickhead masquerading as a man who doesn’t understand the concept of ‘no’!” 

Pretty Boy simply entered my hallway and shut the door quietly behind him. 

“What in the name of Satan’s Red Hell do you think you’re doing?!” I hissed. Maybe I should have shouted? Alerted the neighbours? But for some reason I was too embarrassed to do so. I was a grown woman; I should be able to deal with this myself. 

“I apologise for being discourteous. But you see, you are very important to me, and I would appreciate if you would take the time to listen.” I looked at him, that insufferable smirk had gone, and his bright green eyes were no longer arrogant; more...worried?  

“And your needs are more important than my security or my inner sanctum?” 

He looked at me, the nerve to do something so audacious and then stand in my hall all apologetic, jet black hair falling into his eyes, like a naughty schoolboy?! 

“I really am sorry Miss. I am sure that it was explained to you that there is currently a cold war – of sorts – amongst factions and that many vampires are dead?”

“It was not. The other guy had the sense to stop talking when he realised I wasn’t interested.”

“From your description, the ‘other guy’ was Rasmus Lyksborg. Son of Frederik IV of Denmark.”

I turned round fully, to face him “Are you shitting me?!” My jaw was slack. 

Pretty Boy smirked. “I assure you, Miss, I shit you not. There may be a cold war, an all-out war brewing, but my people – they are dying of a sickness; a pestilence. It renders them mute and unmoving” He took a deep breath. “But it is not starvation that takes them; their bodies enter some state of rigor. Paralysed and curled in on themselves like the victims of Pompeii... It would seem their organs implode one by one as their nervous systems fight to keep them abnormally still. They decompose within days – our medicine; modern medicine even – they do nothing. We are left simply watching them cease to exist.” 

Now my jaw had totally given up the ghost and was flapping weakly somewhere around by third chin. 

“There -” he started.

“Maybe you should come in, tell me over a drink rather than standing in the hallway?” I still wasn’t sure that this had anything to do with me, but whatever was killing these – people? - it had affected this man. Deeply.

“That is very kind of you, Miss – er?”

I sighed. This again “Leda”

He nodded “Thank you, Leda. I am Sebastien Brandt – Seb.” He smiled a brilliant smile; I could see how people were taken in by this man’s good looks. 

“I think I preferred ‘Pretty Boy’” I muttered as I wandered through to the kitchen at the back of my house, indicating for him to follow. 

I entered my kitchen, flicking on the kettle and grabbing the Adrak Chai. “Is this all right? Or would you rather black tea?” I asked Sebastien as I indicated that he should take a seat at the white marble breakfast bar I’d just had installed. 

He unbuttoned his coat, revealing a white collared shirt, no tie, and grey slacks. His Derby dress shoes were clean and polished. I found myself doubting that he did much work aside from sitting with his feet up on a desk somewhere, eyeballing any young women who had the misfortune to work with him. 

“Whatever you have is fine”

“You wouldn’t rather have some blood?” 

He smiled like a patient parent “Blood sustains us. Allows us to walk in the sun – the vitamin D, you know” 

“I see. It's all about the D?” 

Sebastien barked a short laugh, shook his head and took a sip of his chai. “Oh” he looked surprised “Well, this is quite delicious. Very warming” 

I sat next to him at the bar and swivelled on the stool to face him. 

“So, you’re a vampire, there’s some king and an ongoing war? Oh, and people are dropping dead left right and centre?”

He gave me a side-eye. “That would be the Cliff Notes version.” He said drily. “There’s no king – Rasmus was believed dead when his father died. He didn’t turn up for another ten years. By then his cousin had taken the throne.” 

“But then he came back? So, wouldn’t it make sense for him to be king now?”

“Carlotta did not feel so generous. But you’ve touched on the key reason for the divide amongst the people”

“Carlotta is the queen? She is Rasmus’ cousin? Shouldn’t she be dead now?” I was struggling to get my head around this. Surely if Rasmus returned ten years after his father’s death, his cousin wouldn’t have had much longer left on the throne and then he could have taken it back? I took a sip of my chai, allowing the warming ginger to sooth my swirling mind as it travelled down my throat and warmed my chest. 

Sebastien sighed. “Perhaps she should. But she learned of Rasmus’ rebirth – that’s what we call the process of becoming a vampire – and didn’t want to give up her throne. So, she underwent her own rebirth.” He paused and took another gulp from his chai. 

“Wow. OK. Spoiled much?” 

His lips pulled into a thin smile “Perhaps. But you’d do well not to say such things. Especially when you’re at the castle” He put his cup down. 

“Castle? When I’m at the castle?” I laughed “I’m not going to any castle! I was just invited to a very prestigious conference in Romania. I can’t just up and leave to a castle!” I shook my head in disbelief

“A conference?” He wasn’t interested, he was just being polite but I’ll take it. I need him to understand that I have a life – I can’t just up and leave. 

“Yes. I’m a research fellow for University College-“ 

“Ah. You’re an academic? How... trite”

I bristled instantly. “Excuse me?!” 

“You’re far too important to be worrying about an academic conference” 

“It’s in Romania – home of vampires. Perhaps that will gain your approval?”

He smiled, were all vampires this pretty? “Mr Stoker has a lot to answer for. You may be an academic, but you’re also who we know as the Chosen One. Right now, that’s far more important” His eyes swirled, wisps of mint green, smoke grey swirling in those malachite pools.  

Inwardly I scoffed. But maybe he was right. Perhaps I could assist them? Just for a week or so? If I were the Chosen One then surely it wouldn’t take long? 

“I still have work-“

“I promise I will personally take you anywhere you need to go. Romania if I must” He huffed jovially. 

I looked at him, all pleased with himself.

Perhaps it would be interesting to see a castle and experience this collective delusion these people have got going on? They couldn’t actually be vampires, right? My rational side was telling me this was an all out horrendous idea but my inquisitive side was a demon with a pitchfork; prodding me to just take a chance. 

I sighed “Fine. Let me get my bits together.” 

His smile lit up his face “Really? Fantastic!” 

“Don’t you mean fangtastic?” 

“I most assuredly do not.” His face was now stern.

I rolled my eyes. “OK, got it. Dick jokes are OK but vampire jokes are not. Touchy much?” 

His mouth was drawn in a thin line “Funny jokes are acceptable. Others should be met with the derision they deserve.” There was a pregnant pause and all silly jokes and puns rushed out of my head, so I settled for rolling my eyes at him as I jumped off the bar stool instead. 

“Do you have anyone you need to let know you’ll be away?” he asked

“Nah, with my job they’re used to me being away for stretches of time”

“Excellent” His eyes gleamed. 

“Er, just stay here. Help yourself to some more tea if you want. I’ll be right back”  

I went upstairs, after leaving the kitchen I began to wonder what had possessed me to agree to this and was half tempted to march back down there and kick this guy out. 

“Everything all right?” he called, and suddenly I was overwhelmed with the idea of going to the castle again. Perhaps Dr Vanum was wrong and I haven’t truly escaped my mother’s madness? 

I threw the usual bits into my weekender, I wasn’t sure how long I’d be at the castle for, but Sebastien had promised to take me wherever I needed to go. I assumed that meant back home for further clothes and stuff. 

I made my way back downstairs.

“Ah. You are ready?” 

“Yes, I think so.” I grabbed my keys. 

“Great. I put our cups back in the cupboard above the dishwasher. Washed of course.”

“Oh...Great...thank you.” I smiled. I was kind of touched by that, it was thoughtful of him.

He placed a hand in the small of my back and ushered me from the house, barely giving me a chance to lock up. 

We walked briskly down the street to a long black car. I’ve no idea about cars – it was black, sleek and expensive looking. It also had tinted windows; it made me think of a mafioso’s car. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea I’d ever had? I swallowed and looked at Sebastien, but he just gave me a comforting smile and opened the door for me, taking my bag and throwing it in the boot at the same.

I got in and inhaled deeply, appreciating the leather interior. Sebastien got into the drivers seat.

“Thank you” he said. 

“For what?”

“Agreeing to come with me. It means a lot to me”

“Hmm. Not gonna lie, I feel like I was strong-armed into it. Am I gonna run into Rasmus at the castle?”

Oh. He gritted his teeth then.

“Unlikely” 

“He doesn’t live there?”

“No” 

OK... I’m not sure why he’s being so cagey now but it’s a little off putting.

“So...who are you Leda? What do you like doing, aside from avoiding vampires?”

Oh, OK, at least this won’t be the most boring drive ever. 

“Er, well I enjoy reading and researching and learning new things about cultures and civilisations I’ve never been to, or could never go to. It’s why I worked hard to become a research fellow.” 

“You love your work” He chuckled. “What about friends? Family? A significant other? Anyone you need to let know where you’re going?” 

“Oh. No, only child. Parents both dead. Freshly divorced and my friends are...well, I only meet people through work, so they’re mainly my colleagues” 

“I’m sorry”

“For what?”

“For your parents...and your marriage” 

He seemed sincere. “That’s OK. It wasn’t your fault.” 

We settled into companionable small talk then, exchanging anecdotes and tall tales. It was enjoyable but as the journey drew on, I was beginning to feel like there was something hollow... something disingenuous about Sebastien Brandt. 

After a while I noticed we weren’t on a main road anymore; then the buildings ran out and we were on a simple dirt road surrounded by trees. I’d never have found it if someone had sent me here. It was a veritable forest. I glanced about, peering into the dark, when I started to see several glowing balls floating between the trees; like fairy lights blinking gently. That’s just weird. I shook my head and looked away; I must have been tired. 

Up ahead I noticed a huge turret poking up above the trees; from where we were it looked to be piercing the clouds. Gradually, the trees thinned out, and a sort of dusty wasteland opened ahead of us. 

In front of us, the castle was clearer now; imposing on the landscape. As I took it in, I saw it started from the ground as though it was carved into and built up from the rock, giving it an ominous air as it loomed over the barren space. 

Suddenly, I was scared; a deep sense of foreboding settled over me. I tried to take a deep breath but the air caught in my throat.

Dark figures appeared with pointy sticks – were they spears?! They moved aside for Sebastien’s vehicle. As we drove past one of them leered in through my window, exposing his fangs and hissing.

I jumped in my seat

“Ignore him” Seb said, breaking the tense silence. “They’re not used to having humans attend the castle” 

He parked up next to a huge fountain, featuring a woman with long flowing hair and a flowing gown, carrying an amphora from which water should flow – I assumed. But there was nothing, much like the land around it, the fountain was bone dry. Dust blew into my face from somewhere and I coughed. Seb grabbed my bag and threw the keys to a man who seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Seb approached me around the car “Follow me” 

The male who’d taken the keys was staring at me. He looked momentarily at Seb before his whole face changed. His skin seemed to thin, so his face looked waxy and skeletal, his eyes were a blazing crimson and his mouth a red gash. I froze on the spot, unable to think. What. The. Fuck?! Then his gash-mouth opened out into a dark cavern filled with razor sharp teeth and he hissed.

With a banshee-like screech, the man lunged for me. I jumped backwards to make space between us, almost falling over my heels. Then the figure of Sebastien blocked the creature from my view. He stepped in front of me, grabbing the man by this throat and lifting him – one handed – clean off the ground. “Stand. Down” he growled. He threw the man backwards, where he still managed to land on his feet. “She’s with me. Your role is to sort out the car.”

Seb proffered his elbow to me, taking up my bag in his free hand and throwing it over his shoulder as if he didn’t just throw a full-grown man 40 feet with ONE hand?! My hands shaking, I reached out to take hold of his arm. I gripped hold of him tightly with both hands and he squeezed mine with his own.

I clung to Seb as we walked past a few more guards on the way in – including a confused looking bright blonde chunk of a man who smiled politely.