The Hunt

13

Andreji had carried River down the cliff, and after another hours-long walk along the beach, they were taken by a taxi that Andreji had called to Edinburgh, where they checked in at a hotel.

The whole time River had not dared to speak up, but now that Andreji slumped into an armchair, visibly relaxing, River thought it was the right moment. “So, why did you do that? I mean, it looked as if you had waited for the opportunity for years …”

Andreji undid his hair tie and massaged his scalp. “I did,” he said with closed eyes, his voice softer than usual.

“If you were so eager for it, why did you wait so long?” River wanted to know. He had taken seat in the second armchair.

Andreji sighed as if he felt too tired for tedious explanations. “As I have already said, a fledgling is not allowed to speak up against his Master.”

“But you could have stopped being his fledgling earlier; you could have chosen anyone to be your fledgling…”

Andreji shook his head. “He is too greedy. He would not have let me go of his own accord. The only reason why he has ordered me to take a fledgling now is because people were starting to talk. The rule that a Master has to take care of the offspring of his fledgling in the case of his passing has been set up only for protection purposes. In truth, in such a case the offspring – that is me – has to be taught how to get along on its own as quickly as possible. Yet that was never his intent. It was only the pressure of the public opinion that made him yield to the rule – I have never needed his guidance in the first place.”

“Yet you did not seem very eager to bind me to you…” River remarked.

“I was never eager to become a Master. At my age, I already should have had several fledglings; I never cared for that.” Andreji stifled a yawn, glancing towards the bathroom.

River was intrigued. That was the first time that the closed up man spoke about himself. “How old is ‘at your age’?”

Andreji smirked impishly. “Old.” With that he rose. “I need to take care of my hand, now.” He walked towards the bathroom.

“Why? What’s wrong with it?”

Andreji shrugged with his back to River. “Nothing significant.” He disappeared, the door falling shut behind him.

River slumped back in his seat, looking at the cold surface of the closed door. He thought back on the events of this night, realising how little he could predict his Master’s behaviour. The vampire had seemed so integrated in his kinsmen’s society – the Japanese would never have thought Andreji would rebel like that. Had River honestly believed he could judge how Andreji would act? How could he? He hardly knew the other man. River did not know what had happened to Andreji’s Maker; River had never noticed Andreji having a grudge against the leader – how could he have had any expectations?

Feeling the sudden urge to take advantage of his new ‘freedom’ – he was finally back amongst humans without having to fear recapture – River started the search for the mini bar.

A while later, Andreji came back, his chest bare, and threw himself onto the king-sized bed that bounced under his weight. His white hair framed his body gracefully. River smiled. Setting his glass of vodka lemon on the table, he joined his Master.

“Your cut has healed noticeably already,” he stated as he examined Andreji’s chest.

“It will be gone in two or three days,” Andreji agreed. He lay still, his eyes closed, and let River caress his skin with his fingers. “So, where do you want to go?” He looked at River attentively.

“Go?” the blond was perplexed.

“Yes. Of course I will have to set up a smithy for me at some point to continue my business, but I intend to wait a while and travel a bit. Where would you like to go, what would you like to see in your last days under the sun?”

River switched into a tailor seat. He did not like that phrasing – ‘last days under the sun’. It pointed the finality of his decision out to him. This was a path he could not turn back on.

He looked down on his Master and posed a question himself instead of answering the one that he had been asked. “Why me?”

Andreji looked at him questioningly.

“I’ve asked you that before, but you wouldn’t answer. Now we’re in a different situation – you’re free. You’re not really forced to take a fledgling anymore, right? You need to have a reason for keeping me. So I ask again – why did you choose me to become your fledgling?”

Andreji gazed at River. He smirked. “What would have been the alternative? Catch a good looking broker in front of the London Stock Exchange or the teen next door that reads Anne Rice novels and dreams about being a candidate on Pop Idol? What do I have in common with these people? You at least knew that vampires existed. I am sure you did not delight in being forced into this new role either, but the shock was less severe than it would have been otherwise. In fact, I am surprised at the ease with which you have accepted your place at my side. I thought you would struggle harder. It almost seems as if you were made for it.”

River crossed his arms and looked aside, disappointed and hurt by the answer. “So you chose me because it was the easiest way?!”

Andreji sat up. “I chose you because you were the only one suitable. I cannot say I am very fond of this so called ‘Modern Age’. It upsets me, and I could not imagine having to spend a large portion of my time in the company of a child of that age. However, I think we could get along with each other. We share interests – the hunting – and it seems you can parry my sarcastic remarks which is a crucial gift.” He smirked.

“Moreover,” he said and placed a hand on River’s thigh, “you are a handsome young man. It will be interesting to see you mature, to hopefully see you enjoy your vampire nature once you have transformed…” There was a glint in Andreji’s eyes River was not sure what to think of.

Andreji eyed his exotic looking fledgling. “The longer I think about it, the more I like the prospect.” He fixed River’s lips and then looked into his eyes, leaning forward.

River grew excited in the knowledge of what his Master was going to do. Heat rose in him as he felt his Master’s lips being crushed onto his own. After all those weeks in which he had felt isolated and in which Andreji had seemed so distant, River did not expect him to show any interest in him – not even after the last night’s events. He dwelled in the warmth and the tenderness of Andreji’s mouth. Yet, all too soon it was withdrawn again, leaving River flushed and longing for more.

“So, where are we going tomorrow?” Andreji asked again, leaning back.

“Can I choose any place?”

“Let us say any place in Western Europe. I will hardly be able to take long distance flights with my averseness to sun. I prefer trains.” Andreji smiled smugly.

River gazed out of the window into the not-so-black sky. “Talking about sun – where are you going to stay at daytime?”

Andreji smiled. “So worried? I will take a nap in the bathroom. It has no windows.”

River nodded. “I’ll think about where I want to go in the meantime.”

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