Dark Matters

Chapter 11: The philosophy of blood

The two men stood side by side in the small cabin. The vampire knew that his statue-like calmness was only an act. He was not as nervous as before, but he was only beginning to learn to deal with his fear. Something he had not felt in all those years. Vladislaus had no doubt that his host was every bit as calm as he appeared to be. Almost bored, Lace had plugged a small card into an easy to overlook slit in the control panel.

Then after he had pushed a button, the cabin moved and seconds later a door opened. There was a soft glimmer in the air and the mage signalled his guest to wait. After it had disappeared he gestured to Dracula to step out into the hall.

"This is my personal floor. You are only able to reach it with a special key-card. Depending on the occasion I seal it off with magic, too. Magic fields are my specialty. Only recently I put a nice enchantment on my prison-of-no-return tower."

Vladislaus instantly felt a shiver go through him. That pain warping through the buildings glassy surface must have been caused by this late instalment of the mage. 'So much for using it as a hide-out in case something goes wrong,' he thought.

"What was the purpose of putting it there?" Dracula asked aloud.

The mage smiled and answered, while leading the way towards his laboratory: "Some people used to smash in the windows and falling glass on a public street always leaves such a mess. Now that's not possible anymore."

It was obvious that Lace was proud of his achievements, also he tried to sound casual, but alone the fact that he told Dracula so much was very conclusive. The vampire followed his host to a big room. The room was not as high or hold as many big, sacrilegious looking devices like the laboratory he had set up for Dr. Frankenstein, but it had something about it. All those familiar and unfamiliar pieces of equipment had a certain order about how they were placed, but there were so many of them, that the room looked almost untidy.

"Very impressive," the Count admitted.

Lace smiled contently, he knew that his guest was referring to the past centuries equipment he had. Indeed, most of it was more from past ages, but only because magic was not always analysable by the modern way of science. And he explained that to the count.

"When our doctor analysed the victims left behind by you in Misery", the mage went into more detail, "he found a certain cellular damage, but he could not pin-point it."

"But you found something that ... indicates what?" Vladislaus was confused.

"That those people were killed by a vampire - as I said earlier, I was there when the Vatican fell and my primary interest were the archives of the Holy Order. And an alchemist in the seventeenth century discovered that all supernatural things represent a certain spectrum, and provided the means to analyse it."

"How is that going to help me with my problem?" Dracula knew that Lace hadn't brought up the subject for nothing.

"What-ever is feeding upon your powers, will have a different spectrum from yours and then all I have to find out will be the exact opposite force…", Lace said and his guest finished the thought.

"… and all I need to do is feed on something that has this anti-energy and it will be gone from me!" The Count smiled at that thought.

"Sounds quite easy, considering the amount of creatures in this city, but keep in mind, that they might be not so willing to make a donation or that it is something not resident in this city - like something angelic."

"Don't tell me they roam about as well", replied Vladislaus, annoyed.

Lace nodded: "Oh, not in as great numbers as their counterparts, but I already crossed path with one of them and not a fallen one…"

It was almost like there was nothing that Lace had not met or knew about. Dracula began to feel like a child that just barely had begun to see the world. And the mage was still so young compared to him. "What happened?"

The mage began looking for something, as his eyes were searching about various little drawer cabinets. "Not much, it came down to protect a certain relict and neither I nor my master was able to acquire it. Not that I minded terribly, I forged a similar orb with help from below and, most important, I got rid of my teacher."

"You are more the self-educational type," the vampire commented with a dry voice.

"I learned to discover things for myself, but I did not mind having a teacher, I just would have liked to settle for one that does not hold back - a good teacher should always be interested in his pupil becoming better than he himself," replied Lace. "At least that's what I am trying to do."

"You teach the art of magic?" Dracula felt that this was kind of reckless. "Aren't you afraid that your pupils turn against you?"

"I select them very carefully," the mage replied and produced a little crystal in a very odd shape from one of the drawers. Then he turned to another and took out a syringe. "Well, are you ready?"

"As ready as I ever will be," came the sardonic reply.

The Count removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeve, when he suddenly noticed some dark texture crawling over the side of his arm. He moved his fingers and thus the sinews in his arms, but it had not been a shadow as he saw them now. Vladislaus suppressed the need to rip off his shirt and look for it. He wondered if this was connected with Werewolf -Van Helsing biting him.

Of course Lace had noticed, but he did not say anything about it. The mage just stung his guest with the needle and drew a fair amount of blood from the un-dead's underarm. It had been a while since Dracula had really caught sight of his own blood, but he began to understand what his host had meant, as he saw that the blood was not pure read anymore, but a murky brown.

"I'm sure that's not what it meant to look like," the vampire said.

"No, definitely not, all recordings say that vampire's have an overly red-coloured blood. - Well I'd like to get to work on this - the spectral analysis will take a while and I'm sure you like to get settled in before the sun comes up."

Dracula had hoped to observe what the magician was doing with his blood, but he was right. The sun would come up soon and this room was not shielded from it. Besides, the vampire admitted that if Lace wanted to, he could put a spell on him without him noticing. Vladislaus was not familiar enough with this kind of magic. After all he had used to have his own.

Lace removed the glass with the blood from the rest of the syringe and put a black, soft lid on the one end. After that he walked to the next wall and grabbed a device from it. The vampire figured that this must be some improved way to talk over a great distance not unlike cabling messages.

The mage called a person named Parker. Dracula wondered who that might be. The mage had more personnel than he had created vampires throughout the centuries. Lace began to give a few drops of the Count's blood into a dark bowl which was made of bone despite its being almost black.

Carefully, the crystal was placed on top of this and it seemed that the inside of the bowl was carved especially for this weird piece of jewellery. Noticing the vampire's curiosity Lace placed it at the edge of the table. Looking inside Vladislaus saw that his blood was in the centre of the crystal and that the various longer spikes that came out of it were pointing upwards. The shorter spikes stuck inside the bowel.

Meanwhile the mage began to construct something with glass and thin metal bars. It looked a bit like a chemistry set. Lace assured him that it would take a while but that he was confident to find out more till the end of this day. He was only interrupted as had to lower the energy shield at the entrance, which Dracula had not even noticed to be build up after they had stepped inside.

"So, you are our new guest!" said the black man as he saw the vampire, but not before he had bowed slightly to great his master.

"You are Parker, my guide," Vladislaus replied.

It was obvious that this employee of Lace was much higher in rank than the others he had met so far. Everyone had been trying to be especially polite. The huge man in front of him was openly showing his disapproval. In a way it was refreshing, he seemed to be very strong and Dracula wondered if he was something demonic.

"I'm responsible for the Security, so you better pay attention to the guidelines around here," Parker warned him.

"Parker has a strange concern for the well-being of others, if he could he would protect everyone from the exploitation of others", said Lace.

The vampire looked suspiciously at the man in front of him. This was getting stranger and stranger, but in a way very amusing.

"I guess we see each other at the ball," Dracula turned to Lace.

"I definitely hope so. Have a good day's rest", the mage replied and nodded afterwards into Parker's direction.

Then the black man asked Dracula to follow him. They were heading back to the elevator, and Parker was fetching a small card from one of the many pockets in his dark blue uniform. "This will be your card, your rooms are located on the forty-fifth floor. The card also allows you access to the library and a few other restricted areas. You will find more information in your quarters. I have ordered Virginia to meet us there. She will be showing you the details."

With that, the card was handed to the un-dead and the expecting look on his face told the Count that he wanted to see if he was able to work the elevator. Which was of course no problem and as the cabin went up, Dracula asked: "If you are so keen on protecting others, why do you work for Lace?"

"Only heroes think they have to save everyone - I try to be more rational. Lace knows what he does, and I will always follow his command."

"So he is your master and you don't have any choice but to obey him?" Vladislaus inquired further. He thought that it was always good to know were people stood, especially if they did not like him very well.

"I choose to swear loyalty to Death," Parker said, "because this was the only honourable solution, the only way to come even close to pay my debt."

The doors opened, but the un-dead was not going to let this go. "What debt?"

"For the control he gave me, for the life I would not have without him," came the sincere reply. Parker was not even looking at him, he just paced down the corridor which had doors to the right and left.

"He is your father?" came the surprised answer.

"No." The black man turned and stopped. "He gave me control over my curse. Without that I would be no more but a mindless blood-lusting beast."

Dracula was not impressed about the tall man towering over him. "Sounds like an interesting curse!" he said enjoying the mocking.

Parker turned around and strode on. "There is nothing interesting about being a werewolf."

The Count, who had just continued his way as well, stopped abruptly for a second. He told himself that he should have known that all those good things bestowed upon him must have a counterweight to it. It was really all he needed that Lace most loyal and very powerful servant was the only thing that could destroy him. His eyes stared at the broad back in front of him. Eventually, he caught up as they arrived in front of a large door.

"Those are your quarters." The werewolf pushed the doors open.

His host was generous indeed, his resting arrangements were even over his residing standard in Bukarest. Right opposite the doors, almost 20 feet away, was a marvellous group of soft couches around a round table, crowned by a real fireplace at the wall. Right in the middle of the room in front of it stood a white marble statue in form of a tremendously beautiful woman.

At least that was his first impression, because suddenly the statue was turning towards them. The eyes became alive and glowed in an unholy red, while the white dress turned into a velvet black dress and the hair became black and radiant. Only the skin remained as white as before. "I'm Virginia."

Vladislaus was not sure what to say or do. Part of him wanted to laugh, the other to scream in frustration. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, but even in this shape she was no more alive than the statue a few seconds before. Virginia was cold and not one part in him even longed to touch her, but the view was still incredibly appetizing. The woman was like a piece of art that inspired, but could never fulfil any of the promises it seemed to make.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thirty stories below, two not nearly as beautiful, but very alive girls were sitting at their supper table. For a dancer the nocturnal life-style was simply more comfortable, but still as the telephone rang both of the young women looked up in surprise.

"Please, it is five a.m.", the brunette girl replied.

Her fork went back into her salad as if she wanted to prove that she did not really care. Her friend bent back and reached for it, she seemed more awake and smiled until she heard who was at the end of the line.

"Of course," she replied after a while. "Okay."

Her friend waited till she had hung up: "Who was it? I hope not Peter this jerk, 'cause I told him that it was over days ago."

"No, Sonja, that was Lace."

"Oh, no, he can't be calling you this late," she said.

"Actually he called both of us", Alicia replied.

"Me, too?" Sonja could not have sounded more disapproving. "What does he want with me?"

"There is only one way to find out. Come up, or do you wan to finish that first?"

"No appetite!" She wiped her lips with the napkin and got up. "That guy gives me the creeps out and he knows it."

"He has that affect on almost anyone," Alicia said, "but don't worry, he won't harm you. Not you."

They left their quarters and walked down the corridor towards the elevator. At the same moment, the doors opened and Verbatina stepped out.

"Out that late?" the black-haired girl said.

"I might have worse working times, but at least I have honest work," she barked back and walked through between them, hitting Sonja's arm with her elbow in the process.

The two dancers stepped inside and while Alicia was directing the cabin to its destination, Sonja said: "You know, she is always awake, I see her so often at all times, it's really creepy. Is she doing overtime or something?"

"Maybe she got two jobs," Alicia replied. Sonja shrugged.

Then the doors opened and the two entered Lace's private sector. "He is in the laboratory. Come on," Alicia said.

The brunette knew of course that her friend was one of the few persons who were in this area more often than usual. Besides Parker she was probably the only one whose key card had access to this floor. Sonja had her suspicions why the mage was spending so much time with Alicia, but then again, she already knew more than she should. And she was smart enough to keep it to herself.

It was not that Sonja did regret all the benefits she received through the liaison between the two of them, but she hated being so close to Lace. Despite the fact that he has always been kind to Alicia and her from the first day they had arrived here she dreaded him. Even more than the lamias or Logan. That day, when she had stood in front of him, she almost passed out. Ever since then she had kept her distance, if it had been possible.

"Sonja," he greeted her first and then, with an even warmer smile he said: "Alicia."

One word that said everything and the fact that he was not behaving like that in public made the brunette feel even more concerned.

"So what do you want from the both of us?"

"Blood," Lace said. "Well, only a little."

Discomforted, the girls looked at the desk, the monstrous equipment at the end was one thing, but the syringes and the small cloth sling right next to the mage were another. "Oh great," Sonja said biting her lower lip.

"Well, you can go first - this way you are over and done with it."

"Yeah, please", Sonja rolled up her sleeve. She hated the fact that there was no way to avoid it. The mage was always getting what he wanted. Being so close, she felt the same distress, but as he touched her wrist it became even worse.

He tied up her circulation with the sling before he stung her with the needle and took the blood out of her arm. It was over much faster than she had expected, and finally Sonja stepped back, pressing the cotton ball over the small bloody dot with her arm. Alicia did not mind that much, she even observed what Lace was doing with interest.

"May we ask what you intend to do with our blood?" the brunette dancer wanted to know.

"Empirical research," the mage said and smiled at his current patient.

"This has not per chance to do with the Count's arrival?" Alicia asked.

"Yes, it has, does that worry you?"

"No, not at all," the black haired woman said truthfully.

Sonja could not understand why Alicia trusted the mage so much. Even if he had owed her mother a favour, she had traded it in a long time ago.

The mage looked at her, after pulling out the needle: "Good - because I have the feeling the Count will choose you as his partner tomorrow."

Alicia shrugged her shoulders. "He would not be the first guy I dance with."

Her fellow dancer felt a bit cast aside. Something was going on here and she wanted to know, despite the fact that knowledge in this city was a dangerous thing, but Alicia was her best friend. Even that did not help her understand why it seemed so important to Lace to know how Alicia felt about the stranger.

"Thank you, Ladies, for your co-operation - I'm sure you want to go and rest, since tomorrow will be a demanding day," the mage said and showed them out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dracula turned his gaze off the strange creature and as his eyes met with the unveiled lower ceiling he saw that the woman had no reflection. "You are a lamia," he said.

He definitely had not expected them to be like this. He was even further stunned as he saw her smile and the cute little fangs that appeared between her dark red lips. "I am, and you are the famous Count Dracula."

"Pardon me, I was a bit surprised," Vladislaus said.

"Since you two get along fine, I wish you a good day."

With those words Parker left the room.

"He is always so tense," Virginia said. "Well, Count, since the sun isn't going to wait, I suggest I start with showing you how the security around works and then if there is time, we can get to the more pleasurable gimmicks around here."

"I hope those include how Dinner is delivered around here."

"Oh don't worry, despite these annoying rules, I never felt deprived of a fair amount of warm blood", she licked her lips hungrily. "Let's talk about food later."

She stepped up to him, and it was then that he realised that it was a small - at least compared to the rest of the room - entrance chamber he was standing in. Looking up he saw that there was a heavy grid made of iron that could be let down to close the room off. Curtains on the living room's side for more privacy were also present. Another set was present at each wall, concealing doors.

"Those are passage ways for the servants," she pointed at the doors.

Gliding past him, Virginia touched one of the two paintings in this entrance chamber and flipped it of the wall, revealing a strange set of controls. "The other painting over there hides the security brakes for the electricity. But we have a crew to maintain everything. But let's go step by step, Parker said you never had the chance to enjoy modern technology."

And with that she began showing him how the security system worked, how he could easily access other leisure activities, like the bar or the public library by using the phones and how he could get into the restricted areas, Lace had made available to him. There was so much interesting and promising thing to discover and the vampire grew more and more excited.

Nonetheless Virginia was hard to be with, but she noticed that Dracula he had his problems with her nature. But when she told him that she was not even able to experiencing any sexual pleasures anymore and only a beating heart could get her into ecstasy, he decided not to hold the lust she inspired in him against her.

Obviously she hunted mainly in Merry Ville, but only males, because women automatically turned into lamias herself, unless she mutilated the bodies. Obeying Lace's rules seemed to be a much harder task on her behalf. Nonetheless she was quite satisfied with the arrangement. Finally she showed him through the whole apartment. Besides the seating group, which was made of real leather and had a comforting light grey tone, there was a huge bar in the living room and a gigantic screen.

So Virginia had to give him an introduction on the wonders of television, before she led him to the next room which contained a magnificent desk and loads of book shelves throughout the walls. All made from mahogany, a room that waited to be filled with work and books. Opposite the desk was a broad roman bench that looked like a comfortable place for reading.

Behind the next door was a simple room. One side was a prison cell, the other side had some wooden chests and wardrobes which, as Virginia was eager to show, contained additional accessories. A courtesy the vampire had not expected. There was even an axe. Here he could keep his prey for a while and in case one died unexpected he could take care of any unwanted fledglings. It would certainly be nice to have a constant supply of blood, so he could take a snack whenever he wanted.

Returning to the main room, she guided him to the other side. Here was a room with a piano and enough room to have a small dance party, a second door lead to a small bathroom with a toilet and a basin. The third way out of here were the stairs that lead up to a catwalk around the room. Three additional doors up there gave way toward the rest of this illustrious flat.

The most uninteresting room was the small room that came first. Virginia explained that from here the built-in sound system to the grand room could be operated. The next room was also quite useless since it featured a kitchen. The last one led to a room slightly bigger than the library, with a conference table and chairs to it. "Don't look so disappointed, in time you find things to decorate it with."

Finally they reached the bedroom. A marvellously inviting square bed dominated the room. A small wall made of black marble went down in steps along each side. Besides the walk-in-closet only a set of two commodes made of teak furnished the room. The last door led to a grand bath room. It was unlike everything he had ever seen. Especially the bath-tub, which was round and in the middle of the room. Tiny holes were in its bottom.

"That is not bad," he said and Virginia laughed softly. And he had to admit that this was indeed more than acceptable.

"Well, there is one thing I think I should show you."

Virginia stepped back into the bedroom and approached the closet doors. Although the whole front was made of seven identical doors, Vladislaus was sure that he could figure out the right one by himself. "This one here", she said, pulling the last one open, "leads down to the library."

There was indeed a small stairway behind, and some tiny buttons that operated the secret doors.

"Now I feel right at home," Dracula told her, smiling.

"Glad to hear that, if you don't have anymore questions, the sun is already up and it's late," the lamia said, still smiling.

"Not for now, but I think I will have quite a few during the next days." With that he took her hand and kissed it softly.

Her fingers were indeed ice-cold and Dracula almost burned his lips. Virginia nodded gracefully and left. Following her instructions, he locked his quarters shut and dimmed all the lights, before dropping onto the comfortable bed. He looked left and right. Here there would have been enough space for seven brides. Although he had to admit that this might have proved to be a bit exhausting. This time he slipped in his resting phase with ease.