Chapter 3
When Sonia awoke again, she was in an enormous bed, a red canopy hanging above her and satin sheets covering her. She sat up with a jolt, looking for any signs of her foe. Only the pale, carriage driver was present, standing at the door to the bedroom. She lifted her sheets slightly to see she was at least modestly dressed in a silk nightgown before throwing back the sheets.
"Where is he?" she asked. The servant gestured at the window. She turned to see the sun hanging low in the sky. She must have been out the entire day. That meant Pasha would be sleeping now, too. "What does he want?"
The servant pointed his bony finger to the closet where a long, red gown hung in waiting for her. "Of course," she grumbled, "dinner." She stared out the window once more. There was still enough time, she could escape now. She could commandeer one of Pasha's horses and return to London and never set foot in this manor again. To Hell with Pasha. To Hell with Roosevelt and to Hell with werewolves. "The Magus Device," she muttered as she sat back down on the bed. Eyes clenched shut, she nodded. "I'll be down directly."
The servant nodded and stepped out, closing the door with a loud thud.
***
Sonia stepped down the cascading stairs into the dining room, a lavish table awaiting her with Pasha sitting at the head. He stood and bowed. Sonia paused and watched him, her hands drifting to the bandages her borrowed gown covered. Continuing closer, she was met by her host who wore an identical, unmarred blue suit and a bright smile. Forcing herself to act within the rules of proper decorum, she presented her gloved hand, which he took and kissed. She shivered.
"You look lovely tonight," Pasha commented as she took her seat.
"Well, I suppose a bit of rouge can hide the bruising," she replied. At that moment the gaunt servant approached, setting down a bowl with red liquid inside. She stared at it for several moments before turning to her host.
"Tomato soup," he assured her, taking his seat.
She took a cautious sniff before indulging, finding herself quite famished. Still, she presented herself as a woman of class, resisting both the urge to slurp the soup down in one go as well as the urge to hurl obscenities at the man across from her.
"I was quite impressed by your performance," Pasha continued, his servant setting a similar bowl before him. "I see life in America has not dulled your talents; you almost had me."
"If I was truly attempting to kill you, I would've done it during the day," she remarked.
"A wise decision. So, what information was so important as to make you come all the way to London?"
"I've been contracted to kill werewolves," she answered.
"My student is having difficulties killing wolves?" he replied with a furrowed brow. "I feel insulted."
"I'm not being contracted to kill a handful of wolves, Pasha. I've been contracted to kill them all."
The vampire's scowl was quickly replaced with a slight smile. "All of them?"
"Yes," she replied between spoonfuls of soup. "It seems the United States is suffering from... an infestation."
"Any country with werewolves is so cursed; they are an abomination."
"I suppose you would be the expert," she replied.
"You jest, Sonia, but I have seen monsters that would make Hell itself quake. Werewolves are a disease that must be purged."
"Good. Then you'll help me?"
"With conditions," he replied.
Sonia lowered her spoon, scowling. "Name them."
"In time. I can assume that you have no issue killing the foul beasts, yes? It is finding and attracting them before the moonlight fails you."
"Indeed," she confirmed. "If we attempt to track them the traditional way, we may hope to kill one a month, perhaps a pair. It won't even keep up with the rate at which new ones are spawned."
"Then you have no choice but to gather the infected souls together and purge them all at once. Very well. I believe I have the knowledge you seek."
"Good. Then let's not waste time, the trip back to America is long."
"Unfortunately, I believe the book I require was burned in an unfortunate accident last night." Sonia's eyes narrowed and her fists clenched. "But... if you give me a few days, I can perhaps remember the formula for a proper Wolf's Bait."
"A few days?" she exclaimed. "The full moon is less than a week away and I have a very long trip back."
"Then it would be in your best interest to help me relax so that I might recall the formula more quickly."
***
Sonia spent the next day forcing smiles as she indulged the vampire, spending the evening dancing with him, listening to music, and, of course, listening to his tales of adventure from across the centuries. She had heard these stories many times, but Pasha seemed to have few people these days to share them with. In fact, when he was with her, whether it be dancing or conversing, he seemed to light up in a way she hadn't seen since she was a young girl.
"You were such a tiny thing back then," he mused as the pair walked beneath the light of the waxing moon. "I had no faith that you would ever amount to a hunter."
"Such confidence. I can't imagine why I had trouble," she replied, her black gown trailing lightly behind her as they toured his garden.
"You jest, but I will always admit when I am wrong. I have trained many hunters over the centuries and you have proved to be one of the most intriguing students I've ever had."
"Intriguing? Not talented or gifted?"
"No, far better. You captured something in me, Sonia."
The hunter shifted uncomfortably, turning her gaze away. "Why do you insist on speaking like that, Pasha?"
"Because I have lived long enough to ask for what I want rather than want in silence," he replied, pausing their pace. He stepped closer to Sonia, trailing his fingers along her cheek. She shivered and pulled away.
"You presume too much, Pasha."
"Do I? Surely you must be lonely since your husband passed. Wouldn't it be better to spend you days in the company of one like me?"
"My days are quite fulfilling as they are. When I'm not engaged in the destruction of foul hellspawn, I still have my Richter."
"Richter is as welcome here as you are, Sonia. Surely he would benefit from a father figure."
Sonia tensed up, turning away to hide her sneer. "My husband and my family are none of your concern."
"I meant no disrespect," he said looking toward his flowers. "Come, let us speak of other things."
"Like the formula?" she replied, stepping further into the garden.
"It is... coming to me."
"I'm quite sure," Sonia said, moving from planter to planter. Even in the moonlight, the garden was beautiful. She approached a stone fountain, topped with a sad angel. Here she paused, reflecting on her trip.
"I am thinking they are giving you something big, no?"
"Pardon?" Sonia asked.
"Your employers. For you to return to me after all this time, they must be offering something quite valuable."
"Perhaps. That is not your concern nor part of our deal."
"Would life with me be so miserable, my dear?" Pasha asked, placing a cold hand on her bare shoulder.
"It would not be a life, Pasha. I will never allow myself to become..."
"Like me?"
Sonia turned to face him. "Yes," she answered firmly. "What you want from me I will not... cannot give." With these words she turned from the vampire and moved back toward the verdant plants that surrounded the fountain. Before her was a planter filled with camomile. Even in the moonlight, she could see the beautiful colors of these and all the other blooms, all carefully chosen and cultivated so that their owner might appreciate them even at night when other flowers closed their petals.
As she looked closer, she took notice of something out of order. Beneath the camomile where more flowers, a pale pink. She leaned closer. "Are these roses?" she asked.
"Wild roses," Pasha answered, moving to her side. "They showed up in my garden one day." The vampire smiled as he knelt beside the plant, reaching his hand out, halting just inches from the roses. "I cannot touch wild roses. I cannot disturb them at all."
"Why hasn't your servant removed them?"
"Because... they remind me of you."
Sonia stood, taking a deep breath. She looked up into the waxing moon. "You won't give me the formula unless I agree, will you?"
"I promise I will make every day a paradise for you."
"That's not a promise you can keep," she replied, turning to face him. "Still... I have my obligations and you seem to be the only solution I currently have. Let me have this contract and you may claim me after."
Pasha leaned closer, looking for deceit in her eyes. "When you have finished your contract-"
"You may come to claim me."
"I will hold you to this, Sonia."
"I know that full well."
"This... payment... it must be something incredible," Pasha remarked.
"That is not your concern. Do we have an accord?"
Pasha nodded solemnly. "Agreed."
"Thank you. Now, I need that formula. Time is running out."
***
Sonia stared at the parchment in her hands. Pasha's handwriting was so elegant, so formal. Everything about him was, really, and yet, it was all just a facade, wasn't it? She looked up from the list of ingredients for the Wolf's Bait, watching as Pasha stood before his coffin in silence. He has been standing there for several minutes, leaving the huntress uncertain of what to say. Taking a last look at the formula, she folded the parchment and tucked it away.
"Thank you again, Pasha. This will help immensely."
"When the full moon is passed, your mission will be over. I will come for you then."
"Just give me this time, Pasha. Let me do this... as a human."
"I will keep my word. And I will hold you to yours."
With these words, Pasha cast out an arm, his coffin swinging open. His body began to blur and fade, melting into a hazy mist. Sonia took a step back as the mist swirled and floated around her, finally moving into the coffin and taking the form of a sleeping Pasha as the lid closed. Sonia looked to the window, watching the first beams of light creeping over the horizon.
It was only a few minutes later when she coming down the steps to meet Pasha's servant at his carriage. He looked impatiently at her as the door swung open.
"In just a moment," she said, approaching the front of the carriage. "I have one last thing to take care of. Please, wait here. I won't be long." The servant groaned and turned his gaze back to the horses. Sonia nodded in appreciation and made her way toward the garden. The servant watched her from the corner of his eyes, but couldn't see what she was doing as she passed through and back into the manor.
Once again, she stood before Pasha's coffin, running a hand along the grain. "Pasha," she said aloud, lifting three wild roses, "you are welcome to claim me when next you rise." Her face still and emotionless, she placed the roses atop the coffin. She stared at the flowers for several moments, thoughts dwelling on her past with Pasha, before producing a small can. Opening it, she poured a viscous liquid over the stems of the roses, sealing them to the coffin. "Goodbye."
"Where is he?" she asked. The servant gestured at the window. She turned to see the sun hanging low in the sky. She must have been out the entire day. That meant Pasha would be sleeping now, too. "What does he want?"
The servant pointed his bony finger to the closet where a long, red gown hung in waiting for her. "Of course," she grumbled, "dinner." She stared out the window once more. There was still enough time, she could escape now. She could commandeer one of Pasha's horses and return to London and never set foot in this manor again. To Hell with Pasha. To Hell with Roosevelt and to Hell with werewolves. "The Magus Device," she muttered as she sat back down on the bed. Eyes clenched shut, she nodded. "I'll be down directly."
The servant nodded and stepped out, closing the door with a loud thud.
***
Sonia stepped down the cascading stairs into the dining room, a lavish table awaiting her with Pasha sitting at the head. He stood and bowed. Sonia paused and watched him, her hands drifting to the bandages her borrowed gown covered. Continuing closer, she was met by her host who wore an identical, unmarred blue suit and a bright smile. Forcing herself to act within the rules of proper decorum, she presented her gloved hand, which he took and kissed. She shivered.
"You look lovely tonight," Pasha commented as she took her seat.
"Well, I suppose a bit of rouge can hide the bruising," she replied. At that moment the gaunt servant approached, setting down a bowl with red liquid inside. She stared at it for several moments before turning to her host.
"Tomato soup," he assured her, taking his seat.
She took a cautious sniff before indulging, finding herself quite famished. Still, she presented herself as a woman of class, resisting both the urge to slurp the soup down in one go as well as the urge to hurl obscenities at the man across from her.
"I was quite impressed by your performance," Pasha continued, his servant setting a similar bowl before him. "I see life in America has not dulled your talents; you almost had me."
"If I was truly attempting to kill you, I would've done it during the day," she remarked.
"A wise decision. So, what information was so important as to make you come all the way to London?"
"I've been contracted to kill werewolves," she answered.
"My student is having difficulties killing wolves?" he replied with a furrowed brow. "I feel insulted."
"I'm not being contracted to kill a handful of wolves, Pasha. I've been contracted to kill them all."
The vampire's scowl was quickly replaced with a slight smile. "All of them?"
"Yes," she replied between spoonfuls of soup. "It seems the United States is suffering from... an infestation."
"Any country with werewolves is so cursed; they are an abomination."
"I suppose you would be the expert," she replied.
"You jest, Sonia, but I have seen monsters that would make Hell itself quake. Werewolves are a disease that must be purged."
"Good. Then you'll help me?"
"With conditions," he replied.
Sonia lowered her spoon, scowling. "Name them."
"In time. I can assume that you have no issue killing the foul beasts, yes? It is finding and attracting them before the moonlight fails you."
"Indeed," she confirmed. "If we attempt to track them the traditional way, we may hope to kill one a month, perhaps a pair. It won't even keep up with the rate at which new ones are spawned."
"Then you have no choice but to gather the infected souls together and purge them all at once. Very well. I believe I have the knowledge you seek."
"Good. Then let's not waste time, the trip back to America is long."
"Unfortunately, I believe the book I require was burned in an unfortunate accident last night." Sonia's eyes narrowed and her fists clenched. "But... if you give me a few days, I can perhaps remember the formula for a proper Wolf's Bait."
"A few days?" she exclaimed. "The full moon is less than a week away and I have a very long trip back."
"Then it would be in your best interest to help me relax so that I might recall the formula more quickly."
***
Sonia spent the next day forcing smiles as she indulged the vampire, spending the evening dancing with him, listening to music, and, of course, listening to his tales of adventure from across the centuries. She had heard these stories many times, but Pasha seemed to have few people these days to share them with. In fact, when he was with her, whether it be dancing or conversing, he seemed to light up in a way she hadn't seen since she was a young girl.
"You were such a tiny thing back then," he mused as the pair walked beneath the light of the waxing moon. "I had no faith that you would ever amount to a hunter."
"Such confidence. I can't imagine why I had trouble," she replied, her black gown trailing lightly behind her as they toured his garden.
"You jest, but I will always admit when I am wrong. I have trained many hunters over the centuries and you have proved to be one of the most intriguing students I've ever had."
"Intriguing? Not talented or gifted?"
"No, far better. You captured something in me, Sonia."
The hunter shifted uncomfortably, turning her gaze away. "Why do you insist on speaking like that, Pasha?"
"Because I have lived long enough to ask for what I want rather than want in silence," he replied, pausing their pace. He stepped closer to Sonia, trailing his fingers along her cheek. She shivered and pulled away.
"You presume too much, Pasha."
"Do I? Surely you must be lonely since your husband passed. Wouldn't it be better to spend you days in the company of one like me?"
"My days are quite fulfilling as they are. When I'm not engaged in the destruction of foul hellspawn, I still have my Richter."
"Richter is as welcome here as you are, Sonia. Surely he would benefit from a father figure."
Sonia tensed up, turning away to hide her sneer. "My husband and my family are none of your concern."
"I meant no disrespect," he said looking toward his flowers. "Come, let us speak of other things."
"Like the formula?" she replied, stepping further into the garden.
"It is... coming to me."
"I'm quite sure," Sonia said, moving from planter to planter. Even in the moonlight, the garden was beautiful. She approached a stone fountain, topped with a sad angel. Here she paused, reflecting on her trip.
"I am thinking they are giving you something big, no?"
"Pardon?" Sonia asked.
"Your employers. For you to return to me after all this time, they must be offering something quite valuable."
"Perhaps. That is not your concern nor part of our deal."
"Would life with me be so miserable, my dear?" Pasha asked, placing a cold hand on her bare shoulder.
"It would not be a life, Pasha. I will never allow myself to become..."
"Like me?"
Sonia turned to face him. "Yes," she answered firmly. "What you want from me I will not... cannot give." With these words she turned from the vampire and moved back toward the verdant plants that surrounded the fountain. Before her was a planter filled with camomile. Even in the moonlight, she could see the beautiful colors of these and all the other blooms, all carefully chosen and cultivated so that their owner might appreciate them even at night when other flowers closed their petals.
As she looked closer, she took notice of something out of order. Beneath the camomile where more flowers, a pale pink. She leaned closer. "Are these roses?" she asked.
"Wild roses," Pasha answered, moving to her side. "They showed up in my garden one day." The vampire smiled as he knelt beside the plant, reaching his hand out, halting just inches from the roses. "I cannot touch wild roses. I cannot disturb them at all."
"Why hasn't your servant removed them?"
"Because... they remind me of you."
Sonia stood, taking a deep breath. She looked up into the waxing moon. "You won't give me the formula unless I agree, will you?"
"I promise I will make every day a paradise for you."
"That's not a promise you can keep," she replied, turning to face him. "Still... I have my obligations and you seem to be the only solution I currently have. Let me have this contract and you may claim me after."
Pasha leaned closer, looking for deceit in her eyes. "When you have finished your contract-"
"You may come to claim me."
"I will hold you to this, Sonia."
"I know that full well."
"This... payment... it must be something incredible," Pasha remarked.
"That is not your concern. Do we have an accord?"
Pasha nodded solemnly. "Agreed."
"Thank you. Now, I need that formula. Time is running out."
***
Sonia stared at the parchment in her hands. Pasha's handwriting was so elegant, so formal. Everything about him was, really, and yet, it was all just a facade, wasn't it? She looked up from the list of ingredients for the Wolf's Bait, watching as Pasha stood before his coffin in silence. He has been standing there for several minutes, leaving the huntress uncertain of what to say. Taking a last look at the formula, she folded the parchment and tucked it away.
"Thank you again, Pasha. This will help immensely."
"When the full moon is passed, your mission will be over. I will come for you then."
"Just give me this time, Pasha. Let me do this... as a human."
"I will keep my word. And I will hold you to yours."
With these words, Pasha cast out an arm, his coffin swinging open. His body began to blur and fade, melting into a hazy mist. Sonia took a step back as the mist swirled and floated around her, finally moving into the coffin and taking the form of a sleeping Pasha as the lid closed. Sonia looked to the window, watching the first beams of light creeping over the horizon.
It was only a few minutes later when she coming down the steps to meet Pasha's servant at his carriage. He looked impatiently at her as the door swung open.
"In just a moment," she said, approaching the front of the carriage. "I have one last thing to take care of. Please, wait here. I won't be long." The servant groaned and turned his gaze back to the horses. Sonia nodded in appreciation and made her way toward the garden. The servant watched her from the corner of his eyes, but couldn't see what she was doing as she passed through and back into the manor.
Once again, she stood before Pasha's coffin, running a hand along the grain. "Pasha," she said aloud, lifting three wild roses, "you are welcome to claim me when next you rise." Her face still and emotionless, she placed the roses atop the coffin. She stared at the flowers for several moments, thoughts dwelling on her past with Pasha, before producing a small can. Opening it, she poured a viscous liquid over the stems of the roses, sealing them to the coffin. "Goodbye."
Chapter 4
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