Monuments in Flesh and Blood

Monuments of Flesh and Blood
Part One: Soulwalker Rising
By Elizabeth Young
©2008, Elizabeth Young, first serial rights

Dedication
To White Wolf, for giving myself and my fellow players such a rich and darkly wonderful world to play with. And to Paul my Storyteller for giving me a story and characters that have haunted my dreams for 15 years and that’s a lot of haunting!

To my sweetheart, Matt for putting up with all the times I would say “Just a few more minutes” when I was lost in my writing and it was past my bedtime. And above all supporting me in this project
To my companions, weres and vamps in training, who are waiting with bated breath for their stories to be told
A special dedication goes to the real E.N.: my muse and my own guardian angel. Thank you for teaching me the meaning and nature of heroism. I know I took some liberties, but I know that you wouldn’t have minded.

Big and small, major and minor
We are catalogues of atrocity
All the things that happen to us, good or evil
Create the monument that is our immortal soul
For all the lost souls in the world, this story is lovingly dedicated

For my family who never stopped believing in me

From the Diary of Nikolai Sebastiane Danov
Date Unknown (or not very important)
i

Chicago, Illinois: our new home, or from what we could see of it from O’Hare’s tarmac, loomed out before us like a black, mysterious and alien monster. Beyond the tarmac, was a large span of ground which looked like it could swallow you up if you were stupid enough to walk across it. Beyond that, was where I knew I needed to lead these two frightened and displaced children: a wooded area, with a large span of greenery and trees. Lake Geneva would be beyond that, close to the Canadian border. It was just on that border was where the Silent Strider sept was. Detlev had gotten word that was the place we had to go. I was skeptical. I knew they wouldn’t accept me, one of the Nosferatu. Yet, I also knew the sept would not have any choice in the matter. Maybe because I was willing and had agreed, at great peril to myself, to take these two on as my family, which in reality, secretly, they were. I felt no one else outside of us, needed to ever know either my true role in their lives, or even Detlev’s role in the life of this young girl, who had just lost her parents in the most heinous way possible. I knew what had happened on that cold evil night. Detlev witnessed the whole terrible business and had promised never to speak of it to his sister and I never wanted to remember it. The young four year old girl-child sleeping in my arms had not stopped crying since we left the airport in Rome. Next to this young girl I had no experience with children and I had no idea how to calm her. But I just kept softly talking to her, stroking her hair gently and eventually she did manage to fall asleep. More to my surprise: the sight of my hideous appearance didn’t frighten her. Now here she was, eyes closed, her angelic face looking up at me. It was the first time I looked at her, really looked at her since she was born. The purity of her beauty took my breath away. I knew that I would do everything in my power to see to it that she was protected. Her role in this world had yet to be established yet I knew very well her importance. I knew the people in this alien place would be looking to her for guidance and hope; possibly there would be some who wanted to destroy her. She must be ready to take the mantle of responsibility when it was passed to her. She has some time, many more years yet. She was truly a little princess. Your majesty, I told the sleeping girl as I touched her cheek, it’s not your native homeland, but it will have to do. Your parents would be so proud of you. Your father, especially if he were still alive. I knew your mother and father well, your mother more so. They’ve trusted me enough to ensure you in my care. I only hope I can live up to their expectations. Detlev’s quiet voice to me interrupted my reverie and I snapped to his attention as if awakened from a dream.

“We’re stopping,” Detlev announced. “I wish we didn’t have to wake her. She finally just went to sleep four hours ago.”

“I know,” I answered him quietly, my eyes only briefly meeting his. Mine couldn’t be taken away from admiring this strikingly beautiful angel in my arms asleep. I said, not taking my eyes from her. She had her mother’s eyes. “But she will be able to sleep once we get to our final destination.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll find my people, my own kind.”

“Where?”

“The sewers in Gary, Indiana, my boy. Of course, I will have to visit those from my clan here in Chicago. The prince of Gary is a likeable fellow so I’ll see whether or not what I’ve heard about him is correct.”

“I wish you didn’t have to go. You’ve done so much for us, even risked your own life for us. How can we ever repay you for what you’ve done?”

I gently touched Detlev’s shoulder. “Ensure she reaches her true potential, Detlev. Raise her as if she were your own. That would be payment enough.”

“She’s a Lupine.”

“Does that offend you?”

“Of course, it doesn’t.”

“Detlev, my dear boy, for all intents and purposes, she’s your daughter and sister all in one. You know full well who will be put out if anything were to happen to her.”

“You keep speaking of this person, as if he’s some sort of legend you’ve conjured.”

“He is a legend.”

“Do you even know where or who he even is?”

“No, not really but I know he is here in this city and that’s why I chose this place.”

“Because of a mysterious stranger you barely met?”

“The Goddess lead us to this place, you know that perfectly well. And She will lead me to this ‘stranger’ as you seem to have dubbed him.”

“Niki, why must you speak in riddles?” Detlev asked, his impatience had grown during our exchange.

I smiled at my ward. “Because I know you don’t like it.”

Detlev smiled and half chuckled.

He reached over and gently stroked his sister’s cheek. She opened her eyes, two of the most strikingly beautiful emerald, green eyes I had ever seen. She would capture the hearts of all who happened to gaze into those orbs, one of the many gifts that the Goddess herself had bestowed upon her. Her raven black hair framed her face loosely, silky soft to the touch, like the finest satin; another of the Goddess’ gifts to her. I thought I was looking at Lavinia, her mother, as a child. It was as if Lavinia’s soul had transmigrated into her own daughter. It was at that moment that I fell in love with her mother all over again.

“Where are we?” The little girl let out a yawn and asked in a very sleepily voice.

“We’re at our new home.” I said as I sat her up on my lap so she could see out of the small airplane window.

She looked out the window at the pre-dawn horizon with the outline of the trees in the distance and said simply. “It sure doesn’t look like much.” Then she started to cry. “I want to go home, Uncle Niki. Where are we? What is this place?”

Despite all my attempts to calm her, her cries got louder and more hysterical. Her cries were breaking my heart. I said to her gently as I touched her cheek. “But this is our home now, dear.”

“Where are all the mountains? I don’t see any mountains.”

“Chicago has wondrous mountains made of metal, stone and glass. They’re magical giants. They can tell you their entire history if you listened.” But my gentle story would prove to be of little use. Her sobs became more hysterical and heartbreaking to me the more she went on.

“Where’s my mommy? Where’s my poppi?”

“Tatiana, darling, Detlev is your mommy and poppi now, and he’ll stay with you until you get settled into your new home.”

“Why can’t I stay with you, Uncle Niki?”

“It’s hard for me to explain it to you but I’m not like you and Detlev and there will be those that will not treat me as kindly as you and Detlev have. I need to be with others of my kind. Do you understand? It’s not that I don’t love you, child. Gaia, knows I do. But I have to let you be with others of your kind, your people. Detlev will be more welcomed because he is sort of like you.”

“And what is that, Uncle Niki?”

“You’re one of the Changing Blood, a Lupine, like your mother; noble born like her. Because Detlev has a similar gift to yours he will be more accepted.”

“But you’re going away. You’re leaving us.” She put her arms around my neck as I held her in my arms. She continued to cry and her tears reflected my own, as they began to fall from my eyes. Throughout the time she had been with me from the time of her mother’s death, we’ve grown quite attached to one another. Now, we had to go to our separate alien worlds to face whatever awaited us. I knew I would see her again when I could. Still, this was going to be a devastating separation for us both. I needed to try and comfort her, convince her that I wasn’t leaving her completely, if it only served to convince myself.

“But I’ll return; I won’t be away from you for long. You must trust me in that.”

She had stopped crying and as she rested her head against my shoulder as we felt the plane stop we watched as people were starting to leave the aircraft to their own destinations. Detlev stood up in the aisle to get our things from the overhead compartment. He handed Tatiana’s shawl to me and I draped it around her.

“There you are, my dear. You will be nice and warm while we have to go outside.”

“Are we really going to travel all the way into the woods, Uncle Niki?” Tatiana asked.

“Yes, that’s where you and Detlev’s new home is. Your people will be waiting for you when you get there, and then I’ll depart to find my own people back here.”

“Where’s Ozzy?” Tatiana asked. “When can I see him?”

“He’s here. They had to put him in the cargo hold. But we’ll retrieve him when we pick up our things.” I said to her.

“The rest of our things are in storage in Rome. I’ll send for them once we’ve settled,” Detlev explained as he put his coat on and his hat. “The trunk is the most important and I’m glad we were able to get that aboard without too much fuss. Thank you for going with us. We’ll never forget you,” Detlev said as he took Tatiana from me so I could stand and wrapped my cloak tighter around me.

“If you two are ever in need of us, be sure to come and find us.”

“We will; you can count on that.”

When we eventually had to part ways, there was not any doubt in my mind I was going to run into those two again. And memories of Lavinia still haunt my dreams as a similar scent comes from her daughter, I’ve come to the full realization that her child will become the hope of freedom for both our people. Oh, Lavinia, my dearest love, you have given me a most difficult task, but one borne out of love for you both. I will take to my duty with all the devotion I have in my heart for you. Thank you, my dearest love, for this gift.

So, it now begins.

ii

Many moons and turns of the Sun later, I was playing chess with my Prince, his name was Modius if I had to give the person before me a name, and he had asked me in a rather matter-of-fact way (as he usually spoke to me when he had something of import to say) how I was getting on. Reasonably well, became my answer to him as I mused over our game board. He had placed me in a rather sticky position and I wasn’t sure what move to make next. So was my life at present. It’s funny how sometimes chess can mirror your life and the choices you have to make: move, counter-move, all connected and dependent on the one you’ve made before. I was faced with a very difficult one exemplified by my turn at the chess board.

“Well, judging by the look of your chessmen, I’d say not very well.”

“Modius, my Prince, you have this annoying knack of overstating the obvious!”

Modius chuckled. “What are you so afraid of, my friend? Just tell the young woman how you feel. Is that so damned hard?” How the hell did he know I had woman troubles? Modius was odd in that way. Odd like a cod.

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re a very handsome man. I, for one, would have them all running for their lives. I’m not the good-looking man I once was, or remember myself being. I was in love once, though it may surprise you.”

“No, Nikolai, that doesn’t surprise me at all. Why should it? Those of the Kindred are capable of the most profound and deepest emotions, so unlike the humans. This young woman must have you indeed in a tailspin to have you so distracted. I could only wish I was feeling the way you are now.”

“No, you don’t, Modius,” I protested. I feel a torture in my heart that rivals the one I had watching her mother’s horrible death.”

Modius sighed. “Of course, you speak of Lavinia Onodi. A brave woman by all accounts and I can’t easily say that about one of the Changing Blood.”

“Would you have loved her like I do had you known her?”

“You already know the answer to that question.”

“She has a daughter; did you know that?”

“No, I didn’t know that.” Modius sat up in his chair. “I’ve heard a great deal about the infamous Romani bloodline, even of the Onodi family, yet I had no idea the greatest Soulwalker who ever graced this realm had a daughter.”

“She’s here, Modius.”

“That would be impossible, Nikolai and you know it. If Lavinia had indeed any offspring they would have met their deaths along with their parents.”

“She’s alive, Modius. I---felt her.”

“Why, Nikolai, have you developed the Sight?”

“Maybe.”

I couldn’t tell my best friend that she was alive and very well and I had helped bring her to this country. But I did feel the very faint stirrings of other things still yet to be made known to me: like the meeting of the person that would change all our lives forever, including the life of my foster child.

“Nikolai, you must know that there are many who seek her because of the fear of her lineage to Lavinia. They fear the power she can have because of her parents. Nikolai, if she is discovered, she will be destroyed.”

“What of your rival, Lodin? Does he know of her existence?”

“I can’t be sure of that. But rest assured that if I knew the possibility existed, chances are he knows as well.”

“Would he seek her destruction?”

“If he feels as I do, he would want something---else for her.”

“To Embrace her?” The response came as a hushed sigh and I shuddered with fear. To have Tatiana embraced by a monster like Lodin, I would put my own life in the way to see that it was prevented.

“For a start.”

“He does so over my undead body!”

“Well, suppose you could use the services of the Underground, or the very least, those of the Arcanum.” How did he know about the Sacred Order, unless he was one of them?

“The Arcanum is a myth. The numbers of that once Sacred Order, as well as their deeds, have been lost with the times.”

“One still lives.” Modius stood up from his chair and walked over to his desk. He fumbled a bit, shuffling papers around and picked up a card that was there. He walked back over and handed the card to me. I looked at it, my eyes growing wide in surprise when I read the name.

“This is a joke!” I announced. “He can’t still be alive!”

` “It’s not a joke, my friend. He is in Chicago but he’s not like you remember him.”

“What’s happened?” I was suddenly concerned. This legend was alive but changed. The idea made me quite sad.

Modius’ expression was grave as he returned to our game. “I’ve played chess with him a number of times and he’s a formidable opponent. As point of fact, the man’s a genius of the game of chess.”

“Well,” I said. “If he is truly a chess master, perhaps I do need to search him out for a game. I believe he would give me a run for my money. I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

“ He wasn’t a genius escaping Capone’s clutches, however.”

“Where is he, Modius?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t heard from him in some time and he’s stopped coming to Gary all together. He hides himself mostly.”

“Is he one of Capone’s? You can tell me that at least.”

“Luckily no, but it was a tragedy what happened to him. I wish I could tell you more. One of my people has spotted him at the library at Northwestern University, a favorite haunt of his apparently, but my agent couldn’t tell me anything more. He’s even been spotted here and there at University of Chicago. No one is even sure he keeps a haven here. There is talk that he does but there hasn’t been any clear evidence of his true residence. Whoever is hiding him, he is under their protection. Oh, my friend, it’s a sad and tragic business. No one seems to know anything of what happened. It’s as if the entire city has been shrouded in secrecy. His loss has been deeply felt. And based on all the reports I’ve managed to obtain, he’s just not the same as he once was.”

“Was he Embraced?”

“There have been rumors to that effect. If that were the case, his sire hasn’t come forward or is keeping it a very well hidden and guarded secret. Secrecy breeds the rumor mill as you know and this business has made this a fertile ground for it to flourish.”

I looked down in despair. I mused, half to myself, half to Modius. “Capone finally got one of the greatest lawmen ever. He finally got Eliot Ness.”

Modius touched my shoulder. “Don’t count him out just yet. He hasn’t played his Ace.”

I looked up into his eyes as I knew he saw the tears in them. I have heard so many stories about Ness and he truly was a hero. He just all of a sudden disappeared after his last confrontation with Capone. No one knew what really happened and rumors flew around Chicago proper like quicksilver. I was hoping he would be the one I could seek out to help protect Tatiana. Now I was doubtful.

“Let’s just hope he’s playing a better game than we are, “I said, trying to get my mind back into our chess game. I put the card Modius gave me into the pocket of my shroud, guarding it with my life. This was to be my Ace; I just needed the right time to play it.

“He usually does.” Modius said as his knight captured my queen. “Check and mate.”

I scowled then said, “Best two out of three?”

“Done.” Modius refilled our wine glasses as I set up the chess board again. It was going to be another long night.

iii

There are times when the rumor mill works all too well. I was able to discover through my many allies in the Underground that Ness had become Capone’s ghoul and was working now for him. Sad sordid business this was turning out to be. There was something else I was able to learn and I wasn't sure I wanted to: Capone was sending Ness out to his death by having him infiltrate the Anarch Underground in order to learn of the location of its meeting place. These weren’t the Anarchs that were associated with us but a vicious band that was causing problems for Lodin. Lodin wanted them flushed out and destroyed but couldn’t locate where they were. Hence the reason Capone had for sending out Ness to find it. I was there to observe, all right better yet, to spy. Upon his discovery, he was viciously attacked, and gravely injured, thus was Capone's hope but during the battle, Critias, the secret leader of the our Underground, had snuck away with a very injured Ness. Critias took him to his haven near the University of Chicago where I witnessed his Embrace. Ness was still unconscious when his Embrace began.

"Critias, was this really necessary; consigning Ness to a fate worse than death?"

"It was the only way to save his life and you know that perfectly well, my old friend."

"But to make him one of us, without his consent? Critias, as one of the Council of Elders, this goes against the Traditions and you know it."
"I'll take full responsibility for him, Nikolai. I can only hope his warrior spirit returns to us."

"Critias, he had a family that he adored more than this world. What happens to them now?"

"That's none of my affair."

"What are you saying?"

"As he grows to forget about them, they will forget about him."

"This is wrong, Critias and you know it; wrong and cruel."

"He will thank me in time."

"He will loathe you for damning him to this life. Critias, there had to be another way”.

“There was no other way. If I didn’t Embrace him he would have bled to death. But now I have to ask you for a favor and this will be the last one."

"Sure it will.” I said under my breath. “You have only to name it."

"As much as I would like to have him stay with me here, this will be the first place Capone will look for him. I'm not sure I have the right to ask this, but would your people be willing to hide him?"

"Critias, it would be an honor to serve a legend such as him. Yes, we will hide him. When?"

"Within a few days. I'll complete the Bond and help you bring him to your haven."

"He'll find sanctuary with us."

"Thank you, my friend. I must go and rest a while. I’ll be back to see him later."

I continued to keep vigil over Ness while he still slept, recovering from his injuries and the Embrace. Critias went to his chambers to rest, the ordeal having exhausted him more than he expected. For two more nights, Ness would have to feed from Critias to complete the Blood Bond. After which, he would be turned over to our care. After such time, I had dozed off as well but only partially for I felt a light touch on my arm. I had opened my eyes and saw him looking up at me. Upon seeing me, he inched away from me in fear, trying in vain to get away from me.

“Easy, son, rest now. You’ve had quite a busy night.” I tried to sound jovial to him, under the circumstances. He didn’t seem to appreciate my attempt, however.

“Who the devil are you?"

"Well, now, you certainly know how to start off a conversation on the right foot." I saw him reach for his weapon but turned back when he discovered he was unarmed. "We took your weapons. They're not permitted here you know."

“Where am I and you didn't answer my question?"

“Let's see; in answer to your first question my name is Nikolai Sebastiane Danov. Most of my friends and associates just call me Niki or Danov, whichever one works for you. And second, you're in my friend's haven, in Elysium so your weapons were taken from you. You are on holy ground, to coin the term of my people."

"Why am I here?"

"You were badly injured in a fight. Don’t you remember? You lost quite a bit of blood. My friend healed you as best he could. Now the rest is up to you and Gaia."

“What are you? Your face can frighten away the dead."

I laughed lightly, and then said. “I'm one of the Nosferatu, Nossies if you prefer, at least that’s what others call those of my clan." He seemed to smile a bit when I said that. "Mr. Ness, you should know the truth. You’re injuries were so extensive that you could have died from blood loss. In order to save you, you've been made one of us, one of the Kindred."

“A vampire? One of the Undead?” He questioned in distaste, his voice rose in both fear and anger.

The fear on his face at this revelation was one I will never forget and even now all these years later, I still haven’t forgiven myself for this treachery I had to deal out to this most noble of gentlemen. He tried to stand although I begged him not to go. He stumbled and fell to his hands and knees, as I gently touched his arm.

"I must leave; my wife, my child. They need me." He tried to stand again but fell on his side. He laid there too weak to try standing again. I knelt by him, helping him back to Critias’ sofa.

Now, I dealt to him my most shattering blow, if his discovery he was one of the undead didn't shock him to his core enough. "Calm yourself. This is as difficult for me to say as it is for you to hear. You can't save your wife and child and you may never try to see them again. As we are speaking your sire, Critias right now is over at your home to tell your wife you had died in a tragic accident. He won't be able to tell her anything more although she will have many questions for him, which will have to remain for her unanswered. Ness, I'm truly very sorry, but you are lost to them forever.”

“No!” Ness was in tears and that more than anything shattered my soul as I watched his heart breaking in two. "No, this can’t be true. I have to go to them. I need to see them. I need to dispel from them these hideous lies!"

"I'm so sorry. Oh, sir, I swear to Gaia I'm so sorry, but that will be impossible. She must believe you are dead. You are dead to her and your child already. I honestly can’t say that you should ever forgive me for being a party to this but you must believe in your heart this was the only way to save your life."

Through his tears, he cried, his soul shattered. “Who gave you this right to play God? You should have left me to my death!” He collapsed in my arms, weeping.

“Perhaps in time you will come to believe that there are still those that are in more dire need than you. Have you forgotten your sacred trust and that you should never refuse a request for aid if you were asked? Have you so forgotten you were once the leader of the Sacred Arcanum? This city needs its Guardian more than ever. Even now, a young girl is in need of your service; she is in need of your protection. She could give you new purpose if you so desire."

He lifted his head to look into my eyes, as tears still fell from them.

“The Arcanum has lost meaning for me long ago. I won’t answer that call again.”

“You won’t take up your sword even for the ones who’ve saved your life?” From around my neck, hidden by my shroud, I presented him with a silver brouch which was a locket on a silver chain. I opened it and handed it to him. "If you won't pick it up for me, will you do so for her?"

He took the locket from me and gazed at the picture. "Lavinia," I heard him sigh in reverence. So, he did remember her.

“How do you know of Lavinia?” I asked with a hint of unnecessary surprise.

“I never had an opportunity to know her personally, regretfully. However, she had developed quite a reputation in the Arcanum. Her deeds have become legendary, as was her beauty. I was studying the Onodi family and their magic.”

“Their magic is a well kept secret. How did you manage to gain access?”

Eliot hesitated. Then, sighed and said to me: “I’d rather not say.”

I grinned, “She visited you, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she did, in my dreams. I had difficulty explaining to my wife my amorous mood when I tried to embrace her while we slept.”

“I thought so.” I grinned.

“She gave me new directions for my research,” Eliot said, dismissing my comment and trying to prevent going into further detail of his wet dreams of Lavinia. I knew them quite well. “I was quite saddened to know of Lavinia’s death. She was an amazing and courageous woman. Can she really be dead?”

“Yes, tragically, she is dead, along with her mate. She has a daughter who miraculously survived the Inquisition’s flames.”

“Could it even be possible? I never would have given a thought to dream that the Princess could still be alive. There may be hope for this world yet.”

“Then, will you return to us?”

“I couldn’t imagine you would bring me such a gift of hope. In that case, I will pick up my sword again, if only for her.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I then went on to explain to him that Capone would be hunting for him soon so he would have to go into hiding amongst my people. He agreed and within a few weeks, Critias, myself, Ness and with some of my Nossie friends from both Gary and Chicago, including the Nosferatu Primogen, Euclid, helped to spirit Ness safely away to my haven. It was a series of tunnels which went underneath Wabash Street and winding its way to the Chicago River. The area where our haven was turned out to be more of his choosing then mine: underneath the Lyric Opera House. This was considered Elysium in its own right so it would be held in reverent respect. I was able to shield our tunnels from the outside world and inside intrusion by shrouding them all in a thick dark cloud of mist. No one would be able to enter without it being dispelled and no one could exit either, until morning that is.

Thus began our association.

Machinations

The early evening moon rose full over his awakening City. She was alive again with citizens doing whatever they would do on a Friday evening: dinner, movies, dancing for some, partying for others, still others would be engaged in the fine art of ‘hooking up’. The man admired them and in many ways, even envied them. He gazed out of the window of his penthouse, one of many of his havens he kept in Chicago. This one he had at the Prudential was the most scenic, spacious, and majestic. His room had an enormous window that served as a sky-light. While he lay in bed he could look up into the heavens, even with the shade pulled to protect from the early morning sun, he could still feel its warmth and felt he was sleeping in the sunlight. He was one of the wealthiest men in all of Chicago and the most powerful as its Prince. He owned a large pharmaceutical company where he served as the head of its Board of Directors and as he had gotten many requests from his human employees to resign his position; those requests were met with the sternest of responses. The requests stopped coming after a time. With his money and influence, he was able to cater to the finer things in life. The museums and other places of artful pursuits thrived under his guidance and patronage. Even those in the literary world weren’t left untouched by his influence and generosity. A young woman of prominence had come to his attention and he was so attracted by her rare and strange otherworldly beauty that he took it upon himself to see to it that her continued success as a gifted writer was assured.

He was given a recent picture of her and it was framed in a very old-fashioned type frame and it held an honored place near his place of rest. The girl’s piercing emerald green eyes were the last things he saw when he drifted off to sleep and the first things as he awoke. He was holding her picture as he was looking out his window as if he was trying in vain to find this beauty that so tortured his soul and disturbed his rest.

“Somewhere out among my domain, you hide yourself from me. Such a rare beauty like you must not stay hidden for long. Someone is bound to come along and pluck you from your secret place and take possession of you, making you theirs for all time. For as long as there is still breath in this very old body of mine, I will not rest until I have you in my arms. You must belong to me and only me."

The next day, a woman was summoned to the Prince’s chambers. It was Anna Trieste; a not-so trusted member of his Council of Elders but he needed her for this purpose. The blonde-haired middle-aged beauty came as she was ordered but as always, she seemed as if he was inconveniencing her. She won’t be feeling that way for very much longer if she failed him; that she knew very well. He knew she was the sire of his arch-rival Modius and because of this he had to tread lightly. They were using one another and they both knew it. Now, Lodin had to use Anna for a very important task, at least it was to him.

“You called for me, my Prince?” Anna only pretended to kowtow to him. Both knew the other’s place. Her honorifics were only to appease the man she secretly loathed.

“This girl, what do you know of her?” Lodin asked as he held up the portrait to her to see the target of their consul.

“Sir, that’s Tatiana Onodi. She is under my employ and she’s one of the most gifted young writers I’ve run across for some time. Her rare gift has gotten her the attention of the entire city. She has created one of the most stirring books the literary world has ever seen. Her imagination could very well push the envelope of modern literature.”

“That is already known.” He took a step toward her, his face showing his impatience. “What do you know of her personally?”

“Next to nothing. She very rarely talks about herself. She keeps her private affairs private and she keeps to herself. She very rarely makes public appearances. What is your interest in her?”

“That’s personal.” He took the picture back and looked at it, the image of the girl’s eyes captivating him the more he gazed upon her. She had powers over him even in this form. “Such a power is in her possession that one could role the universe with it.” As he muses, his hand absent-mindedly glances across the picture, as if he went into a dream.

“Sir? My Prince, if you wish a meeting with her, I’m sure it could be arranged.”

Lodin looked up and smiled. “I see you and I are finally on the same page. Please make it as soon as possible. I would very much like to meet with my protégé.”

“Protégé, sir?”

“I’ve secretly been financing her career since her first story got published by your company. I want to become more to her than just her patron. I want her to become my mate. Incidentally, I’ve been looking into purchasing your company for some time but it seems the owner and I can’t come to terms.”

“I own Bantam Publishing.”

“No, I believe your husband does. Now, how would it look for him to know of your other pursuits?”

“You would not dare!”

“Don’t try me, girl. You do as I require or your husband knows of your latest escapade: your most recent trip to that sleaze pit in Arlington Heights for another one of Keaton’s Punish and Judy shows. I’m sure your demure and ultraconservative older husband would drop dead of a heart attack if he should know that his wife is a harlot.” Lodin was enjoying watching Anna squirm where she stood looking at him in stunned disbelief. He continued as he stepped closer to her. “Seeing as you and I know nothing about Ms. Onodi except her name, I want you to find out all you can about her and make regular reports to me.”

“How am I to do that when she’s practically a home body?”

“You’re a sneaky little bitch. You’ll figure it out.”

“And what is it I’m supposed to gain by this subterfuge?”

“What else? You keep my interest for another day.”

“And Tatiana? What is she supposed to be getting from this?”

“More power than she could ever dream when she becomes my mate.”

“She’ll defy you. She will never be with you.”

“We’ll see. She will belong to me or else.”

“Lodin, my Prince, we both may not like what we find. I can tell you this much: she’s nothing like us and never will. It’s as if another voice calls to her, speaks to her soul. You would be hard-pressed to try and break that bond. Sir, she could shatter both our hearts. Is that what you truly want?”

“Anna, you battle me so often in other matters. Why must you contest me in this one?”

“I only make these comments for your respective protection.”

“I’m flattered. But at least you’ve known the pleasures earthly love has given you with your marriage. I never have. What’s the good of this existence when you are forced to live it in despair and loneliness?”

For once, Anna thought, he had a point.

“Very well, sir. I will carry out your request. But what if you find out something you don’t want to know?”

“I want to know everything, good or ill. Above all things, I want to know if she could love me. I hoped by being her patron it would get me closer to her. I never thought she could write such stirring prose. I never thought she would touch me deeply and so much. She has the face of an angel and I wish I knew what else was in that yearning heart of hers. I want to know if she’s as lonely as I am. Please go now, Anna. I’ve given you my orders. Please find me my beautiful lamb.”

As Anna walked out of the room she said in her mind: “So she could lay with a wicked lion.”

Lodin returned to his window and as if in silent prayer, uttered these words: “Barrington, Illinois. My beautiful love resides in Barrington. Never mind, Anna. I will find her myself.”

“Now, Tatiana Onodi, I will possess your heart, soul and your body. You belong to me.”