The Hunt

12


“So, what is this about?” River murmured in Andreji’s direction as they entered the grand hall in which his colleagues had been sentenced. He did not like the place; it gave him an uncomfortable feeling. The room was as crowded as it had been the first time. Again, the chairs and benches stood lined up, and a buzz of voices lay in the air.

“It is a regular quarterly assembly,” Andreji answered curtly. He wore a high-necked coat again. Had it been black with white stitching the first time, it was a frock coat made of blood red velvet with black stitching this night. It gave him a majestic look, even intimidated River a little. Perhaps that was the function of these garments – to underline Andreji’s position in the vampire society and intimidate the people below him.

“Where am I to sit?” River asked.

“At my feet.” Andreji took his seat, and River sank down in front of him, looking up to his Master. From his low position, he only saw the rows of chairs between which he sat. He smirked inwardly. That was obviously also a well thought out custom – the fledgling was to obey his Master without any doubt; he was to fix his attention, his affection, completely on him – why should he look at anything else?

Andreji stared straight forward without blinking. It almost seemed as if he was lost in reverie, yet his face was as tense, as strict as it had nearly always been in the last months.

A tall, willowy woman sat down next to them. She looked haggard; the suit that she wore only underlined her slender features. Her face was gaunt, yet she looked kind, and her dark, round eyes that clashed with her strawberry blond, strictly combed back hair held strength and intelligence. She threw a glance at Andreji, smiled gently at River and let her gaze wander through the room. There was something fascinating about her; for a moment River’s eyes were glued to the fine, light blond lashes that framed her eyes.

Voices from the corridor between the chairs and the benches caught River’s attention. “Who’s that woman next to Andreji? I’ve never seen her before!” It was Griet’s voice.

For a moment her companion remained silent. “I remember a gathering a few decades ago, when a second fledgling of Demyan turned up. She had longer hair then and was clad differently, but I think it’s her…”

“What’s happened that she has been away so long?”

“That was a short while after Demyan had been punished for his betrayal. She was outraged, calling it injustice, murder. The leader banished her for a certain period of time.”

Andreji’s voice made River turn back to his Master. “What leads you here?” he asked coolly, still staring into space.

The woman smiled playfully. “Curiosity. Rumour said you had finally taken a fledgling, and I wanted to see that with my own eyes.”

“After fifty years of absence you come back because of some wild rumour? Are you so bored these days?”

Andreji’s monotone voice and the motionlessness of his face seemed to unsettle the lady even more than it irritated River. She looked questioningly at him as if she hoped he had an explanation for his Master’s behaviour.

“We’ll talk later,” she decided finally. The leader had entered the hall and taken up his seat.

During the next hour, all kinds of small matters that concerned the local vampire community were discussed. “At last,” the leader finished, “Daniel has informed me that his fledgling now has completed his transformation. Therefore, kindly welcome Gabriel in our ranks!” People cheered.

“Is there anyone who would like to speak up at the end of this assembly?” the leader asked in a tone that made it obvious that the question was more of a custom than a serious offer.

Still, had Andreji remained totally passive during the whole gathering, he now rose - almost mechanically – to speak. All eyes were on him.

“Son?” River heard the leader say benevolently.

“I wish to inform you that my fledgling has officially accepted me as his Master and thus has started the blood ritual.” River peered through the gap between two chairs to see the leader’s reaction.

He seemed surprised. “I did not expect you to proceed so quickly. Congratulations,” he said, yet there was something in the way he expressed his best wishes that told River that he was not happy with this development. That was strange. Had Andreji not claimed his Master had ordered him to take a fledgling? He should be satisfied and proud, should he not?

Andreji remained standing.

“Is there anything else?” the leader asked him puzzled.

“Since I have become a Master myself, now, and therefore am no longer bound to you as your fledgling, I intend to make use of a right I have been deprived of so far,” Andreji declared as monotone as he had said everything else.

The small man with the hazel hair smiled amusedly. “And what would that be?”

“As a fledgling it is not my right or place to speak or act up against my Master. Now that I am free of you, I challenge you to a duel.” He stared right into the surprised eyes of the man that had called himself his Master. An excited murmur broke loose.

“You challenge me? For what reason?”

“You have killed my Master, my Maker, in an indescribably cruel manner. I want gratification for my loss and his suffering.” There still was no emotion in Andreji’s voice.

The eyes of the lady beside him, meanwhile, had widened.

“It was my right to punish Demyan. He had left my side without my permission and had taken fledglings! He has even had two fledglings at a time, as you very well know. His greed was unmatched and a disgrace to me and our whole community!”

River could plainly see that the tall woman would have loved to reply to that. Her face hardened in rage. However, she glanced up at Andreji and seemed to sense that he would not suffer any disturbance.

“I clearly stated that I was not seeking revenge for my Master’s death but for his suffering and my loss,” Andreji retorted ice cold. “This is a legitimate claim. Of course it does not justify a deadly duel. All I am asking for is a duel until first strike.”

The leader narrowed his eyes. “And you will be pacified by that?”

“Yes.”

“Even if I win?”

“Even then.”

The leader smirked. “Fine. Let’s get this over with!” He jumped up and went with wide strides into the middle of the empty space in the hall. “My second,” he said, motioning to his petite companion. “Who will second you? Surely not your fledgling?” he asked mockingly. Half of the audience laughed. The other half was too intrigued by the sudden turn of events.

“I will second him,” the woman in the suit stated with a strong, husky voice and rose as well. In her high-heeled shoes she almost matched Andreji’s height.

The leader’s dislike for her was displayed in his face. He motioned for them to step nearer.

Andreji took off his coat, threw it on River’s lap, and stepped forth. His second remained standing in front of the first row of chairs, out of the fighters’ way.

The keeper of the minutes ordered the duellers to hold out their weapons. The crowd excitedly counted down from twenty. When they shouted “Zero!”, the leader jumped forward swiftly in a first attack. Andreji easily evaded him and circled around his opponent like a panther eyeing its prey.

Again the leader attacked – and again Andreji dodged him effortlessly, exercising himself in patience. The audience started calling him names, because he did not start a counterattack.

The leader’s third attack was more daring. With an unnaturally high jump, Andreji flew over his opponent and kicked him to the floor. He drove his dagger deep into the other man’s guts, drew it out, and put an appropriate distance between himself and the loser of the fight. Distraught, the petite woman hurried to the wounded to help him up, but the leader only smirked and refused her aid.

“Is this it? Has that made you happy?” he asked as he straightened up, pressing a hand on the deep wound but pretending it was harmless.

“It was perfect bliss,” Andreji retorted with biting sarcasm, bowed, and left. River hurried after him, having no desire to be left behind alone.

“Pack your things,” Andreji ordered as soon as they entered his quarters.

“Why, what’s up? What’s happened just now?” River asked.

“Do you want to stay down here or enjoy your last months in daylight?” Andreji asked back. “I have had a bit of revenge and now I wish to leave this place before people start reacting. My position has changed; there is nothing keeping me here – be glad.” With that he disappeared in his private chambers. “Hurry.”

River stood dumbstruck by the sudden turn of events. By rights, he should have been glad that he was leaving the caves, but Andreji’s unpredictable changes of mood scared him. What was coming next?


Constructive criticism is always welcome.