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Chapter 7
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Phoenix Arizona was three hours behind the east coast, so we’d only lost a few hours of daylight from our flight and the transfer time in Atlanta. Both Bruce and I were edgy about wandering around in places we weren’t familiar with after the sun had set. We weren’t afraid of being mugged or robbed, but had a real concern about running into a creature of the night; something we wouldn’t have dreamed of worrying about a few months ago.
We were well equipped and prepared to handle vampires, but now we had to face werewolves. We didn’t have enough knowledge to deal with them. There were questions that needed to be answered, and answered quickly.
Bruce’s arm was looking angry near the werewolf gash he’d received. Was it a typical wound infection, or was it something that would lead to a far greater problem? We just didn’t know. These were answers we needed, and needed now.
The sizable tip that I
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Vampires! What in the name of L’wah was Maggie thinking? How could she jeopardize her family in this way? Elsa’s bare feet padded across the ornate flagstone of her garden patio as she tried to think of a way out of the mess her niece had managed to get her into.She’d listened to enough stories from her mama that were handed down to her from her mama, and to her from her mama, and so on, to believe in the existence of vampires. They were vile, blood sucking creatures to be sure. Rumor had it that her great, great, great uncle had lost his bride-to-be to a vampire, but that was just rumor. It hadn’t ever been proven. She could have just as easily been scooped up by some slave trader she’d had the misfortune of stumbling into. Even so, vampires existed. She was certain of that.Now, after years of dealing with various aspects of the underworld, and managing to avoid any type of interaction or confrontation with vampi
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Shen couldn’t believe how dark it was as he drove the rental car as fast as he dared around the snake like mountainous road of I-93 toward Phoenix. He’d driven the notorious Taconic Parkway from Queens to upstate New York on several occasions and thought its winding roads, threatening boulders, and speeding traffic couldn’t be topped; until now. Perhaps it was the mood he was in. He longed to be back in the arms of his new bride. He was foolish to leave her like he had.His body ached and needed to stretch and rest. He looked for a sign that would give him an idea of how much further he had to go. When his headlights illuminated a sign with the words “Bloody Basin”, he shuddered.He’d lost cell phone reception somewhere back on I-40. When the phone rang, he released air that he didn’t even know he was holding. He felt his muscles ease from their tenseness. Relief flooded him when he heard my voice on the
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Elsa made her way home after a long afternoon at the local Botanica. Her studies in the old family collections of spells and remedies hadn’t been of great use. Apparently, her family was not, nor had they ever been, adept at dealing with vampires. She needed to find help from another source.Her family still spoke their native language when gathered together, but she’d made it a point to be fluent in English, since it was the language that had settled the lands she now lived in. It never ceased to amaze her how others didn’t make the effort to fit in as best they could in the country that they chose to make their home. The old man who operated the Botanica barely spoke a word of English. Since she spoke minimal Spanish, it was a very long afternoon of energy draining communication until she felt she’d satisfactorily managed to acquire the few things she needed.By the time she’d reached the steps of her house, her limbs f
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Elsa listened to the ring through the receiver of her telephone. She’d managed to decipher the telephone number the Botanica owner had scribbled on a small piece of paper for her, as well as the name and was wasting no time making the telephone call. She’d counted six so far. What time was it in China, anyway? It was after ten o’clock her time, so it was after one o’clock the in the afternoon in Beijing. Ming Ho shouldn’t be sleeping at this hour. She was told he’d be there when she called. Why wasn’t he answering the telephone?As luck would have it Cui Fen, her housekeeper of twenty years, was an immigrant from Beijing and spoke fluent Mandarin. Since Elsa had never met Ming Ho and wasn’t certain he spoke English, she’d taken a risk and confided in Cui Fen with her story and her plight. To her amazement, not only had Cui Fen heard of Ming Ho, but her family had called upon him and his
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I had decided to go with Shen to pick up the voodoo priestess, Elsa Prescott, at the airport. I had limited knowledge of voodoo or religions of such, but from what I saw on the television and movies, the priestesses were always called “Mambo”. From what I was told by Shen, this woman went by the name of Elsa. Elsa, the African high priestess. How very odd. I hoped she was legitimate in her claims.Sky Harbor airport was uncommonly crowded, or so it seemed to Shen and me as we picked our way through the mass of people toward the US Airways arrival area. We’d barely settled in the waiting area when the plane eased its way to the terminal.It didn’t take long for the passengers to debark the plane.Elsa gave Shen a brief description of herself, but even if she hadn’t she’d have been easy to find. Her rich ebony skin against her deep purple tunic was a sight to behold. It was only surpassed by the combinati
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Bruce 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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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
