The Hunt

Chapter 29



The house was empty when River arrived back from the Aikido Centre the next evening. The lesson had not been his best. He had been too distracted by his thoughts.



River threw a couple of sausages into boiling water and spread some butter on a slice of bread. Just as he cut a tomato into quarters, he heard the sound of an engine. He went into the corridor, expecting that Andreji would come in. The door did not move.



The young man went to look for his Master outside, but all he found was the still warm motorcycle. He frowned, shuddered from the cold, and hurried back inside.



Just as he swallowed his last bite, he suddenly heard the door to Andreji’s rooms fall shut and being locked. He ran back into the corridor. “Andreji?” No answer. River was confused. He folded his arms and waited.



After only a short while, he heard heavy steps, and the door was opened. “Andreji?” he asked again and moved towards the man.



“Stay where you are,” he was ordered calmly, but with a sharp note in the voice.



River could not make eye contact with Andreji. “What’s up?” he asked worriedly.



Andreji turned his back on him and wrapped a scarf around his neck. Then he buttoned his coat. Finally, he gave an answer. “I will be gone for a few days.”



“So sudden? Where are you going?”



Andreji pulled out a bundle of banknotes, counted some of them off, held them up for River to see, and put them into a drawer.



“I don’t need money. I’d prefer an answer.”



Andreji put on his gloves and seized the small bag that he had carried out of his rooms. It was not before he had opened the door that he spoke again. It sounded as if he had to force himself. “You are not alone.” With that, he left.



River stood with his hands on his hips, affronted. Usually Andreji gave him at least some kind of answer, and now he just left him standing there without any explanation for his behaviour! The blond felt rage pulse through his veins. Still, he sensed that following him, demanding a response, was a bad idea.







Two hours later, River heard the door again. He stood in the library, looking out of the window. Steps came towards him.



“Where is Andreji?”



River looked over his shoulder. “No idea. He left.”



“You seem in a bad mood; what has happened?”



River shrugged. “You tell me. The two of you went to town together, didn’t you? What’s happened that he comes back, packs a bag wordlessly and… and…” River bit on his tongue, pressed his lips together, and waved aside.



“So he was angry. I was wondering about his calm reaction.” Demyan smiled.



“Reaction to what?” River asked suspiciously.



Demyan took a seat next to the fireplace. “Well, since you told me about Sage, I asked him if he knew a way to contact her. He negated that but said he would take care of it…”



River snorted, an arm on his hips. “That explains a lot. Though it doesn’t justify the way he treated me.”



Demyan defended his fledgling. “Whatever he has done, do not take it personally. I told you he can suddenly show an astounding temperament. He can be dangerous when it is aroused. If you are only hurt by his wordless departure – I guess he was just too upset to lead a reasonable conversation. When Andreji forces himself to hold his tongue that is a sign of respect in these cases.



River eyed him sceptically.



“You have no idea how hurtful his biting remarks can be…”



“So now I need to be grateful for someone not talking to me,” he vented his anger once more, yet already with a subdued voice.



“You should accept that Andreji always has a reason for what he is doing, and in these cases the reasons are significant.” He shrugged. “Andreji is a person that demands a huge amount of patience – but you know that already or else you would not be here.”



River smirked.



“So,” Demyan changed the topic after some moments of silence, “What have you found out about the concerts?”







For a week, River heard nothing of his Master. He attempted to call him twice, but his mobile phone was switched off. Helping Demyan paint the room and carry the bed and the sideboard that were delivered up and going out with him could not drive away River’s dark thoughts. Andreji was gone exactly when he needed to talk to him the most.



One morning when River had just dried his body after a shower, he heard his phone ring. Barely covered by a towel, he ran into his room and seized it. “Yeah?”



“It’s Andreji.”



River slumped onto the bed. “Oh. Wasn’t sure you even knew my number.”



“From your tone I derive that everything is fine?”



River made an unnerved noise. “Splendid.”



For a moment, they said nothing.



“Where are you, and when are you coming back?”



“In a few days; I guess I will start the return journey tomorrow.”



River nodded, even though his conversation partner could not see him. “I need to talk with you.”



“That sounds serious.”



“You said I should ask more questions. Just when I wanted, you chose to disappear.”



A sigh. “I had my reasons.”



“I’m in the picture, thank you.”



“Fine. As I said, I will be back soon. You will have your chance to ask questions then.”







Three days later, River heard the familiar sound of an engine. He went out and watched as Andreji moved his motorcycle into the shed. “Are you going to use it even in winter?” he greeted him.



“Nice to see you, too,” Andreji retorted. “And no, this has been the last tour for this year.” He shouldered his bag and approached the door.



River seized the lapel of his coat and wanted to pull him down for a kiss, but Andreji merely kissed him on the forehead. “Let me clear up a few things with Demyan before I get to you.” With that, the tall man slipped past River into the house.



The young man felt secondary, unimportant, being left standing there like that. He shivered in the cold, folded his arms, and went back inside.







Demyan looked up from his book as a sheet of paper was dropped into his lap. “What is this?” he asked, lifting it up.



“Her phone number,” Andreji replied curtly. He leaned against the table. “But call her from Le Havre. I do not want this house connected with any vampiric activities. And if you must at all costs meet her, let me at least provide a safe meeting point for you. It is not unlikely that he has sent someone to watch her house.”



Demyan nodded silently, eyeing the piece of paper, and stood up to approach his firstborn. “I am glad we finally manage to get along with each other peacefully, even though it is still trying for you,” he said, reaching for Andreji’s hand.



After a moments touch, Andreji drew his hand back and took a few steps to the fireplace, where he sat down, resting his chin on his hand and gazing into the flames.



Understanding that the other man needed to be alone, Demyan withdrew.







A short while later, River entered the library. “Can we talk, now?”



“I fear it is not the right time; I need a moment to myself,” he was answered.



“Is it ever the right time? You put me off again and again!” River complained upset. “I need to know a few things, Andreji!”



His Master eyed him. “Fine,” he gave in eventually. “What’s so important on your mind?”



River dumped Andreji’s mobile on the table. He had found it in his Masters coat. “There are dozens, probably hundreds of phone numbers of women memorised on it. Do you sleep with all of them?”



Andreji’s face hardened slightly as he leaned forward. “You have switched that thing on? Never mind the question how you acquired my pin code, did I not tell you that I do not use it near the house? That someone could manage to locate us through it?”



“You’re evading my question,” River insisted.



A cold smirk. “In fact, I do not care about your question. Why should I, since you do not seem to care about anything that is important to me? Such as my safety, or Demyan’s, or this house? I have been living here for centuries. In secrecy. It loses its worth if anyone knows about it.”



River chuckled dryly. “Yeah, right, the f*cking house. That’s more important than me, of course!”



“I do not see how you would be threatened in any way. It is hardly your concern whom I share bed with. I am still your Master, not your lapdog. Now give me back that phone!”



River grabbed it and made to storm out of the room, having a mind to throw it down the toilet or down the cliff. Suddenly an iron grip closed around his wrist. “Ah!” He bent his knees in pain. “Andreji, you’re hurting me!”



“It is hardly my fault if you do not notice when you are crossing lines. The mobile phone if you do not mind!” His Master voice was raised, on edge.



River turned and looked into Andreji’s face. There was an unknown lividness in his eyes. The young man was scared. He threw the phone right at his Master’s chest - and was set free. River hurried out of the room. The door behind him was shut.



He inspected his hand. He was sure there would soon appear bruises on it. Andreji’s thumb nail had left a bloody mark. Before he could hesitate, River hurried into his room and threw a few clothes into a bag. Within five minutes, he was out of the house and calling a taxi.







A/N: Please review!