Elvira's eyes were wide, though with fear, Gabriel couldn't tell. "Gabe..." she said, not sure how to exactly respond. "Now is not the time," she said.
As she tried to pull away, he tightened his grip. "When is it ever a good time?" he asked.
"You know most of them won't make it. They're
ancient."
"Nothing I couldn't handle," he said with a grin, but Elvira didn't smile.
"I'm not sure where we will be. But you know the signs. If... when this is all over. I'll be watching for you...." She turned away then. The chopper blades were already whipping, invisible, through the air. She paused, and suddenly turned, grabbing Gabriel in a hug. He was so surprised that he didn't know how to respond before hugging her back. Elvira's silvery hair whipped around from wind.
Take care. And don't do anything too stupid, Elvira said, speaking telepathically because her voice would only be torn away from the gale force winds of the helicopter.
When Gabriel opened his eyes, she was gone, having flitted to the helicopter, which was already rising into the sky. He had a strange thought of leaping after it, but within seconds, the helicopter was higher than any vampire could ever jump. It was only after the wind finally died down and the helicopter became a speck on the horizon that the screams from below reached Gabriel's ears.
Nefara looked at her mother. Elvira was silent, her hands stiff in her lap as they ascended higher and higher into the pink haze over the city. Alleron and Carden were talking over the intercom in the back, but she didn't bother listening in.
"Elvir--Mom," Nefara said, hesitantly.
Elvira looked at her. Even though Nefara knew her mother had stopped aging long ago, it seemed if the years were suddenly upon her. Elvira looked ashen and tired. "Are you ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine," Elvira said with a weary smile. "I can't believe Gabriel stayed behind... And Lilith..."
"It will be fine," she said, trying to comfort her mother. "Where are we headed anyway?" she said, trying to change the subject.
Elvira straightened herself. "This chopper will take us only to the airport, where Lilith has one of her private jets."
"She has a private jet?" Nefara asked in awe.
"Three actually. One of them is where we are going."
"Ah, nothing like traveling in luxury," Carden said with a laugh. Nefara looked back at them, realizing they were both listening in.
"What about the...sun?" Nefara asked. She could
feel, like second nature, that the sun was only hours away from rising.
"Lilith saved no expense. The entire material of the plane is impenetrable by the radiation and light of the sun."
Nefara laughed and shook her head.
"The plan is to hopefully land in Prague by tomorrow evening. I used to have a few contacts there...before, well everything happened. We can only hope that they are still there and are still hold my allegiance."
Lady Canislea
(pronounced "Can-I-la") Belacort lounged back in her refined Persian recliner. It was just thirty minutes before daybreak as she watched the colors fill the air. It had taken her thousands of years to see the sunrise, but modern technology had done it. She had first seen it in Paris, the moving pictures, and the sunrise, although it was black and white. And now, finally, after being a prisoner to the night, she enjoyed watching the sun rise through the three inch thick ultraviolet protective glass that made up every window in her chateau.
She sipped delicately at the thin China cup, letting the sweet flow of blood run over her tongue. Canislea looked down at, a frown creasing her unblemished forehead. "Percy," she called.
Percy appeared instantly, flitting to her side. "Please, be a dear and get me another glass," she said.
"Yes m'Lady. The same?" he asked.
Canislea thought for a moment. "No. Something different...What is new to the cellar?"
"We just got a shipment today from our international Vintners: a healthy, young Italian boy today. Very feisty and lively. I thought he would fit your exquisite taste beautifully."
She smiled, showing her needle sharp teeth. "Oh, that does sound perfect for the occasion of today's sunrise," she said. "Can you bring him up?" she said.
"Just one moment," Percy said, disappearing.
Only a few minutes later he was back, with a dark-skinned boy of twelve or thirteen years in his grasp.
"Let go of me!" he snarled, struggling and kicking at the air.
"You were quite right! Very feisty!" Canislea said with a laugh.
The boy looked up at her, seeing her for the first time. His face was one of horror. He said a prayer quickly in Italian before falling silent.
She walked slowly forward, circling, reaching out and pinching here and there. "They really do keep them in good shape, don't they?" she said.
"You know I only order with the best," Percy said.
"
Demonio! Strega!" the boy cried.
Canislea only smiled, clicking her tongue. "
Si deve sapere di non parlare con una donna come quella - You should know not to talk to a lady like that."
"You are no lady!" the boy snarled in broken English.
Canislea took his head in her hands. With a sudden jab of the sharp nail of her finger, cut a small gash in the nape of his neck. She brought the blood covered fingertip to her lips. "Hmmm," she said with a smile.
The boy paled as he saw her needle sharp teeth. "
Mio dio..." the boy whispered.
"Yes, I think this will work. Fill me a glass of this," she said. "Oh yes, it's excellent. You never fail to please me. Thank you," she said with a nod.
"My pleasure, m'Lady."
With one hand, Percy, held the young boy, with the other he expertly inserted a strange device that seemed like something they used to
tap syrup from a tree. The boy screamed, as the device was inserted into the base of his neck. It was a simple thing of shining silver with a small spigot and nob. He practically fainted, but Percy kept him standing. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small hypodermic needle, inserting it into the boy's shoulder. The boy stirred, before awakening. The serum in the needle was meant to numb the pain and wake him, adding adrenaline to the body.
The boy made a gesture to pull out the metal spigot in his neck.
"I would not do that if I were you," Canislea said."And I know you can understand me, but I'll tell you in Italian too," she said, easily changing into Italian. "Pull that out and you'll bleed to death in seconds. And that would be such a waste," she said. She nodded to Percy who put the shackles back on, holding the boy immobile.
Canislea took her glass and turned the nob decanting the blood from the Tap, sticking in the boy's neck. A strong steam of blood poured out into her waiting glass. The boy looked pale and faint, as she turned it again to stop the flow.
"What is your name?" she asked, as she took a sip.
After a moment the boy responded, "Acori".
"Well, Acori, you really have wonderfully tasting blood. I can't wait to see how you will age," she commented.
Canislea no longer needed blood. It did little to help her strength, but she enjoyed it. She was among one of the oldest vampires still alive.
She had perhaps three dozen or so other people just like this boy in her collection. She had a peculiar taste and could taste the many flavors that each person contained. It was her who had developed this "spigot" or Tap, that could be inserted into the neck of any victim so that they could be tapped for blood with ease. Through the years her techniques had developed. She found that using the Tap was much easier, cleaner, didn't get infected and allowed her to age her drinks. Her victims lived almost the full lifespan of any normal human. Many of her Barriques (the name she uses) enjoyed a full life at her chateau. They were never hungry or sick, as she kept them in the best condition for herself, and many found life easier with her than where they had come from. She collected many off the streets as young children or ordered stolen infants for the special occasion. They all grew to love her in time.
After Percy had put Acori away, he turned and asked, "May I be so polite as to ask what the special occasion is? You seem very anxious."
"Hmm? Do I?" she asked. "You will have to just wait and see," she said. "Now leave me. I am content to my drink and to watching the sun rise," she said, taking another sip of her morning 'tea'.