Blueblood 4: Dracula - 7. Who Is He?

It was just a moment of time before Christian let me go from the hug. I noticed that Colin had stiffened looking very worried as we had hugged. I broke away a little from Christian. “I can’t absolve you any sins, Christian. I can promise I’ll be around.”

Colin came over a little quicker than he would have, but hopefully to stop…whatever…who was I kidding? Christian read signs people couldn’t imagine, so he probably knew what Colin was doing.

Christian chuckled. “You husband is concerned with us hugging.” He looked at Colin. “No, he’s concerned with you hugging me.” Christian looked away. “I don’t blame him.” He suddenly gave a sound of frustration. “I’m not worth it.”

Colin relaxed but Burke said. “You said Even now, among ourselves, there are conflicts. Here, in this part of the world, there are those that seek control and will do anything they have to, to get what they want. Is there a conflict here?”

Christian nodded. “Very much so. That man who said he was Iilya from Russia is but a soldier they sent ahead. A kind of advanced scout.”

“The Russian group of vampires wants what…a war?” I asked.

“The Russian Vampires want you,” Christian said. “They want what magic you have so they can take control.”

Burke walked forward. “He said he was turned into a vampire here and he wanted to kill the vampires here to get to that one.”

“How would that work?” Christian turned, looking at Burke. “And did you believe him?”

I nodded. “God forbid anyone would lie to hide motives.” I sighed. “You’re saying we’re the targets?”

Christian nodded. “Not you, the serum.” He shook his head. “You would be in danger because you know how to make the serum. If it’s hard to make, you would be made to keep the serum manufacturing going.” He looked at George. “You are a target.”

George frowned. “I see.”

“With the dawn of this new technology, we have seen some things change for us,” Christian said. “Even the restrictions of traveling at night have been dealt with. This new serum just makes it…” he looked up at Colin, “easier.”

“Vampires want war?” Colin asked. “With who? Us?”

Christian shrugged. “If you don’t agree with them? Yes.” He looked at Colin. “I, like you, can read a person, you are what you seem. What you want is to unite us. That’s admirable. What do you sense from me?”

Colin looked at Christian. “Okay. I sense you seem to be what you are; a man dealing with a pretty bloody past. You have doubts. I didn’t like you hugging my husband because of that past.”

Christian nodded. “Understood.”

Then I looked at Colin’s translator. “We haven’t used the translator. Not once.”

Christian chuckled. “I speak English. There’s no need for a translator. I have spoken English for several hundred years.”

“Back to the Russians, who are they?” George asked. “The Russian group?”

Christian shook his head. “It would be easy to say to a particular national ideology was responsible, but that wouldn’t be true. Iilya is part of a group that is no longer content to hide.” He said pointedly and looked at Colin. “Is that you?”

“Hiding is not something we want, but it’s what we have to do to stay safe,” Colin said. “We are threatened because of the people that know already.” He waved at George. “He didn’t want to do this, but I did.”

George walked to Colin. “But I was wrong.”

Christian turned to me. “You’re different.” He said looking at me. “You’re at peace. Why?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Almost every vampire I’ve encountered has this…” Christian began. “…this look. You don’t have that.” He looked at me as close as he could without touching me. “There was no trauma. Your life wasn’t taken.”

He could see that? “No, it wasn’t. I gave myself to Colin.”

Christian smiled. “I’ve only known a few that are like you. They too gave themselves to the one they loved.” He looked at Colin. “You’re a lucky man.”

“Back to this group,” Christian said. “A man named Gaius is the leader. He was but a rumor when I was human. No one knows how old he is. It is said he was once besieged by madness and only over time learned to speak. He claimed to have been brought over by a demon when he was turned.” He waved at Colin’s tablet. “Perhaps he was referring to one of those.”

I looked at Colin. “A wild vampire regains speech? Has anyone ever done that?” I asked George.

George shook his head. “Why look at me? I don’t have all the answers.” He thought. “It is theoretically possible given time. Usually, when there is head trauma, the brain is said not to heal, but evidence has shown, with time it can. It’s just very slow. Changes pathways and adapts. But this venom isn’t a head trauma, the venom is in the blood.” He shrugged. “I suppose the brain could learn to deal with this venom.”

“Christian,” Colin said hesitantly. “Would you help us?”

“That’s what I’m doing,” Christian said.

“I mean, out there.” Colin pointed to the outside. “You know this area and its people. We don’t. Between you and Amasis, you would be able to tell us what we need to do. I think the Gaius is one of those wild vampires that became more human. He’s still a vampire. Do you know where he is?”

“I know where he was,” Christian said. “He’s a few days away.”

I walked to Christian. “Did you become a vampire as a consequence for helping your people?”

He shook his head. “I became a vampire during battle. The vampire was feeding on the dying in that battle. I came upon him and he bit me. Why?”

I nodded. “There are stories…but they are just stories.” I smiled. “To help us, would you consent to go on the serum and help us find and stop Gaius and Iilya?”

“We have a few people that can help us,” Colin said. “We’re not alone here.”

“So does Gaius,” Christian said. “In many ways, I feel this is my punishment for doing what I did.”

I nodded. “Well, after you help us. You don’t have to remain on the serum.” I said. “You could return to this…sentence you seem to have become used to.”

Christian nodded. “I will consider it.” He turned away to leave. “Return in two days, I will have my answer then.” He turned back to us. “But remember, you know who Iilya is, but he also knows you. Be cautious.” He said and went further into the tunnels.

On the way back to the house, Colin took my hand. “Devon. I will say this; that man, if anyone could fool me, it would be him.”

“Was he trying to fool you?” I asked.

“That’s the problem,” Colin said. “As well as he could read us, he would know what signals to give off, but you have to admit, he gave off this…I don’t know…a presence that was pretty powerful. I don’t believe in magic, but he has this power.”

I nodded. “Hypnosis,” I said.

“Hypnosis?” Colin asked.

“It used a lot in therapy today and even to make a man cluck like a chicken for entertainment. They used it in the past to make sleeper agents that didn’t even know they were agents until the code word was given.” I said.

“I never heard of that,” Colin said.

“There was movie Charles Bronson was in called Telefon. Agents placed in places to do damage after a phrase was given to blow things up. These agents were so deep, they didn’t even know they were agents!”

Colin shook his head. “You had a lot of time in the past.” He chuckled.

“Yeah, yeah…It was done at that time by Russians…so we thought.” I grinned. “These people that can do this can lower our guards and inhibitions; make us do things we wouldn’t normally do. I think he does that naturally. Since he became a vampire, he’s learned to use it more.”

“I got one thing from him,” Colin said. “Danger.”

I nodded. “I got that, but he doesn’t like what he did.”

“I disagree,” Colin said. “The problem is he did like what he did and that’s what he doesn’t like. Just promise you won’t meet with him alone.”

I nodded. “I won’t.”

Chuck heard what we told the others what we found out. “Wait, no one could do that now!” He said simply. “No one person could have that much control. They wouldn’t be allowed.”

Colin nodded. “But Gaius thinks he can.” He said simply.

“He thinks he deserves it,” I added. “A madman feels entitled to what he wants and can’t understand why we don’t see it that way. He didn’t claim this made sense.”

“This…Christian.” Shelly said. “Is he willing to help us do this?”

We didn’t tell them who he really was…yet. “He’s dealing with some demons of his own making. He is charismatic and if we win him to us, I know he could help.” Colin smiled as George nodded in agreement.

“Does he have a lot of followers?” Chuck asked.

“Will his followers be willing to help?” Willie asked. “Vampires simply will not trust.”

I shook my head. “No, that’s not true. Given the right motivations, they come through. Look at England. They’re still looking for the vampire or vampires…like the one that changed Wayne.”

“The Old Ones?” Mom said.

I nodded. “Gizmo they said was found near the Amasis’ City,” I said to Amasis.

Amasis nodded. “But I didn’t see him. He could have been the one I saw.”

“But they are still there,” I said. “The leader of these others I think was a wild vampire.”

Wayne now looked up. “But he functions? How?”

George nodded. “That’s what we need to find out.”

“He is also right about this man being more dangerous,” Amasis said softly. “Men come into power that shouldn’t be. They are born to it, but don’t know why they’re there.”

“Explain,” I said.

“Leaders are there to lead a group of people, be in a small tribe or a bigger country. The danger is there are some that view the people he leads as being there for just himself.” Amasis sighed. “I did until I truly understood it. My brother did not ever get it. He viewed everyone under him as being there to get what he wanted.” He smiled sadly. “Or worse…and I hope I use the term right. A man that was bothered as a child, for being too short, or not being strong enough or…something that bigger children would…abuse?”

“Bullied.” I nodded.

“Yes, bullied. They then see the world differently when placed in a position of power and they return this abuse to people. Not even the ones that bullied them.” Amasis said.

“We saw that during the Second World War in Germany. Men that were nothing given places that were to decide who lives and dies and they did some horrible things.” Mom said. “There is a history of kings and queens that thought only of themselves.”

Amasis nodded. “This vampire, this Gaius, could be thinking that if the world had wronged him, could be very, very dangerous.” He looked at us very seriously. “He may not even want the power, but to cause the world to feel the pain he went through. There are no innocents as far as he’s concerned and because he suffered, the world will suffer.”

“This guy will be insane.” Shelly nodded.

“If he suffered the way Wayne did…” Amasis said, “I know he will be. The other problem is…he could have the sort of madness that my uncle had. He could pass for some who isn’t mad, but he was. He could charm someone and lure them into killing.”

“He would kill them?” Mom asked.

“He could lure them into killing others and then he would kill them in the name of justice.” Amasis nodded. “He was quite mad!”

Colin nodded. “Well, whoever this Gaius is, whatever he is…we get nowhere speculating about it. We need to find him.” He looked at everyone. “George, Burke, Devon and I are going to give Christian the serum.”

“If he agrees,” I said.

“I think he will,” Colin said. “We do it there. Then we find this…Gaius.” He sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. “I’m not good at hiding things. You should know who we think he is.”

I nodded. “He’s not good at hiding things.” I smiled. “The man…I believe…he won’t say it, but he is Vlad Tepes. He is Vlad Dracul.”

“Are you kidding me!?” Chuck stood up now and threw his hands out in frustration.

“Is a joke?” Mark asked frowning.

“Really? You’ve met Dracula?” Stan asked, but was smiling.

George sat forward and said loud. “Listen, guys…” he forced his voice down. “He’s not what he seems; or what is painted in history or what was supposed to be him in that novel!”

“The man I met last night was tortured,” I explained. “He knows what he did was horrible, but he did it for his people. He sees this vampirism as punishment for what he did. In fact, he’s afraid to die in case there is a God and he will face punishment!”

“Maybe he should face punishment.” Mom said.

“Mom, you haven’t met him,” I said. “You know how it goes. The fish you almost caught was so much bigger than it really was, the accident you saw was so much worse than it was. Maybe he didn’t do all those things…I don’t know.” I looked at Mom. “You told me to never judge a book by its cover. You’re judging a man by a book that isn’t about him. And history is written by the victors. Judge him after you meet him.” I was getting a little angry and Colin put his hand on my arm.

“He has a reputation, Devon,” Colin said. “He does have the ability to influence a lot. Devon thinks it’s a kind of hypnosis. That’s why we’re doing it there, not here.” Colin looked at me. “Admit it. Christian could be a dangerous man.”

I looked at him and saw he truly was worried. “You said he seemed genuine.”

“He knew things about us by simple observation. Better than Sherlock Holmes, I think. He could fool me, remember I said that?”

I nodded. “Fine. He could be a danger, but I sense he’s more of a danger to himself.”

Colin nodded. “You promised not to talk to him alone.” He reminded.

“I keep my word,” I said. “But everyone keeps their minds open!”