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Chapter 14
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Bruce was silent during the drive back to the hotel. Shen and I sensed his need to think things through, so we refrained from disturbing him. Instead, we focused on contacting Ken to arrange for the use of a kitchen for Elsa.
The same woman, who offered her home for the meeting opened her kitchen to Elsa. The ride to her Buckeye home from our Scottsdale hotel felt far longer than it did the first time. I figured it was because we were all anxious to get Bruce taken care of so we could focus on finding Tatyana; each for our own reason, of course.
The sun was well behind the jagged mountain’s edge by the time we reached Millie’s home. Elsa said little during the drive, except to remark about how bland the houses looked. She didn’t understand the native concept of blending the homes in with the desert landscape with earth tone houses and stones for grass. She was of the frame of mind that we should celebrate life and o
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Nandru eased himself onto the fainting sofa that he’d brought with his from the old country. Hidden in the Big Horn Mountains, not far from Tonopah, his den made it easy for him to govern the vampire kingdom in Arizona, as well southern California, lower Utah, and all of New Mexico. He’d recently been approached to take over Nevada, a state that had always been immune from governing vampires while Wadim had reigned over the city of Las Vegas.Repelled by Wadim’s cannibalism, but respectful of the fact that he was the son of Count Dracula, Nandru and his associates had avoided any confrontations or interactions of any type with him or his den. Now, with him gone and the den in ruins, the state was open territory for those eager to expand their reign.A knock on the door to him study caused him to sit upright and call for entry. He smiled softly when he saw that it was his favorite mistress, Lucinda, seeking an audience.“I&rsqu
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I paced the floor of the hotel room. Bruce was a werewolf! I still couldn’t believe it.Shen put in a call to Ming Ho to discuss the matter. Ming Ho was openly disturbed by the turn of events. He felt we could still turn things around, but it meant capturing Bruce and getting that potion down his throat. It didn’t seem like such an easy task to Shen.To make matters worse, Elsa was pushing to return to San Diego to check on little Charles. I couldn’t blame her for wanting to assure the child’s safety. It was something that we all wanted. Even so, I’d sure feel better if she was in the area and available in case we needed her to whip up a fresh batch of that gooey looking gruel. Fortunately, she was sympathetic and understanding of this.We’d decided to put Elsa on a plane in the morning. She’d return to San Diego, check on Charles and then come back to continue the search. Millie requested t
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Even though the pounding on the door was loud enough to awaken the dead, Shen still had a difficult time rousing himself enough to get out of bed and answer it. He glanced at the digital alarm clock. Its brilliant numbers illuminated the time in the darkness of the room. It was one o’clock in the morning. Who did we know who’d be pounding on our hotel door at such an hour?Keeping the light off, he reached over to the bed next to him and shook me vigorously. I sat up with a start, but remained quiet as I gathered my wits about me.I slipped out of bed and stood flat against the wall behind the door while Shen slowly opened it.“I know it’s late boys, and I’m sorry, but we have a situation here that can’t wait,” Elsa blurted as she pushed her way past Shen. I let out a grunt as her powerful thrust of the door sent it crashing into my chest. She stopped and looked at me quizzically, but said nothing. &ldq
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Nandru entered his den with his spirits high. He could already feel the glory he’d be bathing in after he surrendered Bruce, me, and the baby to Dracula. He wasn’t clear on the reward that was set, but it didn’t matter. Shining in the eyes of his maker was reward enough. He’d been in the background for far too long.A shrill scream caught his attention and he rushed in its direction. Following its incessant flow, he found himself heading for the family’s private quarters. Recognizing the voice as that of his first mistress, Yolanda, his anxiety mounted as he envisioned what could possibly be causing her such distress.The corridors leading to the family wing seemed endless and he cursed himself for building such a complicated and extravagant den. Vampires stood in the doorways of their rooms with worried faces. No one dared to stop their commander to find out what was happening as they watched him dash past.
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It took Shen and Elsa the better part of an hour to convince me to join them in their scheme to secure Tatyana’s safety and penetrate Nandru’s den. Since Elsa was no longer catching a flight back to San Diego in the morning and it was too late to return to Millie’s house, Shen rented a hotel room for her and we all settled down to catch some good, solid, sleep.Both vampires and werewolves rested during the day and roamed at night. This meant that we’d have the daytime to replenish our strength. This was something Shen couldn’t have been more grateful for.It was well into the afternoon before we surfaced and joined each other outside the hotel restaurant. The lunch shift had ended and the kitchen was closed until dinner. Since we needed to stretch our legs, we walked into Old Town Scottsdale and selected a sidewalk cafe’ for our dining and conferring.“I sure am glad it isn’t the middle of
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Tatyana needed water. It was several hours since she’d discovered Nandru’s private exit and wandered northeast over the rocky terrain with the brutal rays of the sun beating on her. She had no clue where she was or if she was near a town at all, but even if she was, she didn’t know who could be trusted to help her. Staying in the mountains until she was certain she was safe was the best thing. In the meantime, she needed water; and eventually food.Hearing an SUV in the distance, she hurried up and over a pile of boulders while hoping she hadn’t been noticed. The laughter through the open windows from the children in the back seat made her think of Charles. She hoped Elsa had realized that she was in trouble and had tucked Charles away somewhere safe. She still didn’t dare try to send out telepathic messages to her for fear the vampires would intercept them. Even though it was daylight, she was sure the den was in an
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Nandru was deep in thought as he made his way down the hotel corridor. It was clear to him that the old African high priestess had the ability to read his mind. That was something he wasn’t accustomed to. He needed to focus his thoughts so that she wouldn’t pick up on the fact that he’d lost Tatyana; or at the very least, misplaced her. If the old woman discovered this, he was certain she wouldn’t help turn Bruce back into a human.Shen swung the door to his room open before Nandru was able to knock. He cannot be psychic as well, can he? Nandru scowled at the thought. Dealing with one psychic was more than enough trouble. He had no desire to deal with several.His vampires were given orders to remain inside their dens until further notice. He’d sent out two of his most trusted selectors to collect a few donors to feed his own den and ordered the other dens under him rule to do the same. Th
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Tatyana was hungry. Whether it was done intentionally or simply because they themselves didn’t eat, food had rarely been presented to her while she was held captive in Nandru’s den. When it was, what she was given was of such an intolerable taste and texture she could barely get it down. She was starving.As much as he wanted to go out and raid the nearest farm for a fresh chicken, or even their eggs, it was agreed that it wasn’t safe for either one of them to leave the inner sanctuary of the mountains. Not yet, anyway. So, they’d have to make a meal out of whatever they managed to find living in their desolate looking surroundings.Bruce was thrilled with Tatyana’s ability to read his thoughts telepathically when he was in werewolf form. They were communicating so well that, at times, he almost forgot he wasn’t speaking the words.As they followed the stream inside the mountain, they stumbled upon yet
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After several days with no sign of Dragomir, Osip felt it was safe to assume that he’d met his demise by that cursed werewolf. This was a disaster.He’d set out to bring back to Count Dracula his half-brother along with, if possible, the Tugurlan cousins. Instead, he’d managed to lead Dragomir right to his fate. Now the Count had two legitimate sons and one bastard son who were dead, as well as the commander, who happened to be one of the Count’s favored vampires, and he was still no closer to producing the Tugurlan cousins or his infant half-brother. This was very bad.He needed to think of a way around it all. He needed to save his station here and status back home. His mind whirled as he struggled for an idea.Nandru’s study felt stifling. He needed air. As he stepped out into the corridor he almost collided with Lucinda, who was carrying Nandru’s newborn son in her arms. Osip looked clos
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Shen and I picked our way along the narrow path that led up to the area where Elsa had encountered Bruce. We had no idea what had happened to Elsa. She hadn’t checked out and her things were still in her room. We agreed that, wherever she was, she was probably fine. She’d expressed the need to be pampered. Perhaps she’d decided to take the night off and go to a spa. Whatever the reason for her absence, we decided to simply leave her for the night and continue the search on our own. Shen still had the spare vile of potion that she’d given him the first night we started the hunt. So, if we did find him, we were prepared. We just hoped the one vile would be enough. It would have been better to have Elsa’s vile as well, but we had no way to get into her room and, if we did, no idea where she’d hidden it from prying eyes.Returning to the scene of Nandru’s demise created an emotional roller coaster for me. The
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I waited patiently for Shen to join me in the ice cream shop. I’d decided to take a little time to think things through and ease my nervous tension. I’d walked through Old Town Scottsdale and ended up in a fifties style ice cream parlor with a dish of homemade ice cream in front of me that was just the ticket. Feeling calmer and more amiable, I’d called Shen on my cell phone and asked him to join me.Shen smiled as he entered the fifties style ambience. He enjoyed the decor of that era and I knew it. Sitting down opposite me, he ordered a root beer float before stretching his legs out in front of him with a satisfied grin.“You’re so predictable,” I chuckled. “Just once I’d like to see you order something other than a root beer float.”“I happen to like root beer floats,” he said with twinkling eyes.I hadn’t seen him this relaxed in months. It was infectious!
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Lucinda watched Yolanda cross the room with as much pride and dignity as she could muster. The news of her fall from status had spread quickly through the den and, although she still held a position of rank as the mother of Nandru’s sons, obvious disdain for her was openly worn on the faces of the many servants who’d suffered her abusive nature over the years. Some even sported smiles and sneers.Yolanda had managed to fashion an eye patch to cover Dragomir’ handiwork. It created an air of mystery about her. To an onlooker, her proud swagger and patched eye could have easily hinted that there was a pirate amongst them.Morgana lay moaning on her fainting sofa. The pain in her abdomen was unbearable. She’d delivered many children for Nandru, but never had she experienced pain of this magnitude.Yolanda knelt beside her and coaxed her into a calmer state. There was a bond between the two mistresses that L
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Osip ran his hand along the smooth twelve-foot mahogany table in the oversized great room of Nandru’s den. How he longed to be lord of such a magnificent place as this. He’d often fantasize about being in such a position. Who would be his queen? Would it be the lovely young vampire who serviced him so well last night? He chuckled as he thought of the erotic pleasures she bestowed upon him over and over again. No. His queen would be pure when she came to him. He’d keep a small harem for his pleasures, but his queen would be a pure virgin that was made vampire by him.His musing was interrupted by the entrance of Lucinda. Expecting to find Nandru, she gasped her apologies before backing out of the room.Osip was immediately struck by Lucinda’s strong European beauty.“Wait! Come back!” he bellowed in a commanding tone that was fitting of any great lord.Lucinda eased her way back
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Tatyana looked out onto the bay as the cab moved across the long bridge to Coronado Island. She was anxious to get to Elsa’s house and cradle Charles in her arms.She was both relieved and grateful that making her way out of the harsh Arizona mountains toward Sky Harbor airport, while being undetected by Nandru or any of his vampires, was easier than she’d anticipated. She hoped the rest of her mission went that smoothly.The cab pulled up to the curb in front of Elsa’s large, turn of the century house. As she got out, she couldn’t help admiring the ornate and perfect architecture of the building. She smiled and closed her eyes as she allowed herself to flow back to a time gone by. She could almost hear the horse and buggies making their way down the streets, while the laughter of people walking the beach and enjoying life drifted through the air. In the midst of it all, a woman was calling her name.As she stood motionless, T
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Elsa shouldn’t have been surprised at the news that Dracula sent Osip to search for Charles. Even so, hearing the news from me shook her to the core. A world full of vampires to hold off was bad enough, but to hide from a brother who shared the same family genetic ties would be next to impossible. She felt old, tired, and overwhelmed. What she wouldn’t give to have the power to squash those vampires like the bugs they were.Shen felt the need for some release of physical and mental tension and went to a nearby martial arts studio to train. He telephoned, stating that he’d lost track of the time and would do his best to fight the traffic and return as quickly as possible. So, we waited; each in deep thought and barely remembering the presence of the other.Nandru was the first to spot Shen getting out of the cab. He hopped anxiously to his feet while announcing his arrival. Shen wasn’t even given the opportunity to enter the mot
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Tatyana paced impatiently as she peered out into the darkness. Bruce had left to hunt for food quite some time ago, leaving her plenty of alone time to think about Charles. She needed to know if he was alright. Had Elsa been able to keep him safe and out of harm’s way?She felt guilty about burdening the old woman with her troubles the way she had. If there was any other way, she’d have gladly done it, but the old magic woman was all she had right now. She needed to make sure that her baby brother was still in Elsa’s care. She needed to get back to San Diego.Taking Bruce with her was out of the question. Nandru and his vampires were all over the valley. In fact, it seemed like there were vampires in every corner of the country. She was kept isolated in Wadim’s den and, since Wadim was an outcast who other vampires avoided, she hadn’t learned of their vast presence. In fact, with Wadim’s den destroyed she didn
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Nandru did his best to hide his dismay at the arrival of Dragomir and his young protégé. This was disastrous. He was aware of Dragomir’s jealousy over his bond with Dracula and knew that Dracula’s firstborn was searching for centuries for a way to destroy that relationship. Now, of all things, he’d arrived at a time that was most crucial for Nandru. He’d lost the girl, which meant that he’d lost his bargaining chip with the old woman. If Nandru wasn’t careful, Dragomir just might succeed in his mission of destruction.Doing his best to keep his guests occupied while he continued to search for Bruce, Nandru opened the doors to his concubine’s quarters. When Dragomir expressed his desire to taste something of a more prestigious rank -meaning one of Nandru’s private mistresses- Nandru snarled. He knew he couldn’t refuse.He’d never subject Lucinda to such degradat
