Chapter 2 AnUnpleasant Encounter

As Blaire ventured further into the estate, a mixture of trepidation and determination guided her steps. The air around her felt thick with an otherworldly energy, and each locked door she encountered only fueled her curiosity. The dimly lit hallway seemed to stretch on endlessly, lined with mysterious portraits and intricate tapestries that told stories she couldn't decipher. The estate was like a labyrinth of secrets waiting to be unveiled, and she was determined to unravel its enigmatic enclaves.

With her gemstone brooch concealed in the palm of her hand, she discreetly took pictures of the locked doors, hoping to find clues hidden in the intricate patterns and designs. Her heart raced with anticipation as she inched along, each click of the camera capturing the essence of mystery that surrounded her.

As she turned another corner, she found herself in a narrower corridor adorned with ancient artifacts, each one appearing more arcane than the last. She marveled at the artifacts, wondering about their origins and the purpose they served in this seemingly timeless place. Blaire couldn't shake the feeling that this estate was more than just a home-it was a sanctuary for something far more sinister.

Her journey down the hall continued, her inquisitive nature urging her forward despite the fear that gnawed at her. Blaire felt a growing sense of unease, as if she were stepping deeper into the belly of the beast, surrounded by the very secrets that had remained concealed from the world.

With each step, she quickly took more pictures, documenting her findings as if piecing together a puzzle that could unlock the truth. Her hands, paler than their usual chocolate tone, were as white knuckled as they get. They trembled slightly, both from the adrenaline coursing through her veins and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

Then, just as she reached another set of locked doors, she turned the corner and came face to face with the enigmatic Alexei Volkov. The surprise of his sudden appearance caught her off guard, and she quickly tried to mask her emotions, hiding her brooch once more. She tried a smile first, "Oh, Mister Volkov, a pleasure to see you. I just got lost on the way to the restroom, the estate is like a maze."

He didn't believe it for a second. instead, his pale grey eyes surveyed the landscape of her face, falling beneath her jawline, tucked next to her ear. The gentle throb of her increasing pulse. He could sense it. Smell it. The warmth, the life within her. The essence of a soul coursing through her veins. Through the tiny capillaries of her dark complexion. Alexei stood there, as if transfixed, as if he were hovering over a fine wine that had a delightful nose.

He grinned, flashing a row of perfect white teeth as he did. "We both know that's not true, Miss Kingston."

She paused utterly. He knew her name.

The blood drained from her face as she took a half a pace backward, staring at his features. He was the son of a very wealthy man, or so that is what the world was told. Alexei was the son of Vlad Volkov, a Russian Businessman and Entrepeneur. He was known for being ruthless in his business negotiations. The Volkov Group was well-known, and the primary donor to The Domovoi Fund. Blaire knew none of this, yet he knew her name. She stood, and tried to lie, to smile again, "I'm sorry? I'm Miss ..."

"You think I'm stupid, but I assure you I'm not." There was a whisper of a Slavic accent clinging to his words, wrapped around them so gently. He aligned his gaze with hers again, "Blaire Kingston. You're twenty five years old. You were two credits away from your Master's Degree in Criminology, Law, and Justice. A shame."

She was stupefied. Her grin faltering as she feigned ignorance, "I'm sorry... Mister Volkov, I think you have me confused with someone else." She tried and comported herself quickly. She moved to go, but his hand, an uncompromising grip of steel wrapped velvet held her wrist like a vice. She paused. He wasn't done talking.

Alexei's grip on her wrist was firm, sending a chilling sensation through her entire body. There was no escape from his grasp, and she could feel his unnaturally cold touch against her warm skin. His eyes bore into hers, as if searching for any sign of deception or weakness. Blaire felt trapped, her heart pounding in her chest, and she knew there was no point in denying her true identity any longer.

He leaned in closer, his lips mere inches from her ear, his breath cold against her skin as he whispered, "You've been asking too many questions, Blaire. Digging where you don't belong." His voice was a low, dangerous purr, and she could feel the intensity of his gaze on her. "But I have to admit, there's something intriguing about you. So many humans dare to infiltrate our world, our sanctuary." He paused again before getting lost in his thoughts, "But you were especially subtle and clever."

She remained mute and attempted to regain agency over her wrist, glaring in fear, and deep defiance over being held there. Lifting her chin she said nothing, and he still held to her wrist, "Smart, as smart as you are lovely." He finished and only then he released her wrist.

Blaire refused to budge. Watching him with narrowed eyes, slits of vision, she sneered, not admitting to any of it, "What do you want?"

"Want? You're doing what I want. You're learning about vampires. But you're getting a bit eager and careless. And, I've discovered just now, and well felt I had to inform you that you've placed yourself in danger." He replied, pushing aside a bit of her hair.

She parted her lips, in shocked silence. Pressing them back into a thin line she waited for him to continue.

"Who do you think got you your tickets for tonight's Gala? Because of Jared, you followed Jared here, but Jared is not one of mine, Miss Kingston."

Unable to interject her surprise, he straightened and pressed his palm on the wall beside her face. He leaned in further and whispered, "And unfortunately, if you want to get out of here alive, you will need my help."

She didn't know what to say or do because almost instantly after those words reached her ears, she heard the approach of guards. The security on their rounds. She froze, staring at him.

Fear and desperation gripped Blaire as she heard the approaching guards. The reality of her situation sank in even deeper, knowing that she was completely at the mercy of Alexei and his vampire companions. The walls seemed to close in around her, and she felt a surge of adrenaline urging her to run, to fight, to do anything to escape this dreadful fate.

Alexei, still close to her, smirked at her panicked expression. "Ah, the sound of impending doom," he said mockingly, as the guards' footsteps drew nearer. "Don't worry, my dear, I won't let anything happen to you-for now. Just remember, I have every motivation to keep you safe."

Blaire's mind raced, trying to formulate a plan, but she knew she was at a severe disadvantage. Her chances of overpowering the guards and Alexei were slim to none. Her best option, for now, was to play along and hope to find an opportunity to escape later.

As the guards turned the corner, their eyes fell upon Blaire and Alexei, and they raised questioning eyebrows. Alexei stepped back, giving Blaire some space, but she could still feel his watchful gaze on her every move.

"Everything alright, Master Volkov?" one of the guards asked, eyeing Blaire curiously.

"Absolutely," Alexei replied smoothly, his charming facade on full display. "I was just showing our guest around the estate. She got a little lost."

The other guard chuckled. "Lost, huh? Looks like she stumbled upon the wrong part of the mansion if you ask me."

Blaire forced a smile, trying to appear unthreatening and harmless. "It's a beautiful estate you have here. I must have gotten carried away with the exploration," she said, attempting to sound innocent.

This seemed to satisfy them as they continued on their rounds, leaving Blaire alone with Alexei once again. Her heart was still pounding, and she knew she couldn't afford to let her guard down for even a moment.

Alexei's grip remained on her arm as he began leading her through the labyrinthine corridors. They took a longer, more circuitous route back to the gala, and with every step, Blaire's curiosity and anxiety grew.

"We need to get you out of here," Alexei said, his voice low and serious. "You have stumbled in at the worst time. For what I suspect will happen tonight. Some of the Houses have grown bolder, more ambitious."

"Dangerous things? What do you mean? Houses?" She stumbled along after him.

"Yes, Houses," Alexei clarified. "In the vampire world, a House is a group of vampires bound together by bloodlines and common interests. They form intricate societies with their own hierarchies, rules, and territories. I don't have time to explain it all now. But know this, most Houses have coexisted peacefully, following the age-old principle of keeping our existence a secret from humans. But recently, a powerful faction has emerged, fueled by a desire for dominance."

He led Blaire through the dimly lit corridors, keeping a tight grip on her arm as they moved stealthily. Everywhere they turned there seemed to be more patrols. He tried to find another exit and then sighed. The distant sounds of the gala could still be heard, but they were now hidden away from prying eyes.

He moved his hand at the end of a long vacant corridor. The wall, stone and all, rearranged itself before them. She stood, in shock, muted again. Her fear rising as she was dawn deeper into the belly of the estate.

As they snaked through the grounds, the corridor seemed to form and fashion itself in front of them. On and on until it arrived at a room adjacent the ballroom, where the Gala was. There they stood, secure, behind a thick pane of glass, they could observe the attendees without being noticed. The water from the feature cast unusual shapes on the walls, and obscured most of the view of the ballroom beyond. The muffled sound of laughter, music, and talking was barely heard over the water.

Once she had her bearings, and her wits, Blaire turned to her would-be captor, this beast of a man before her. She glared at him in silence, "You're... you're not human. You're a monster."

He hushed her, chuckling, "Monster? Monster is such a crude term," Alexei replied with a sly grin, seemingly unfazed by her accusation. "Call me what you will, but I assure you, I'm still more human than you might think. I have emotions, desires, and a longing for a life that's not plagued by the darkness of our kind."

Blaire couldn't help but feel a mixture of fear and fascination as she studied him. He was captivating, despite the danger he represented. She had to remind herself that he was still one of them-a vampire.

"And what about those guards back there? Are they monsters too?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

He shrugged, "They are loyal to their House, as I am to mine. This venue belongs to my family, they are using it for their propaganda. But I've seen people skulking around tonight. Listen, we can't escape, but we will be safe here."

"Safe?" Blaire retorted, her eyes narrowing in anger. "What is going on?"

Alexei paused and says, "After our dance, Miss Kingston. I started seeing faces I had not seen in a very long time. It seems that there is going to be a supernatural event tonight. I think House of Adze is trying to make a move."

"What do they want?" Blaire asked, her curiosity overriding some of her fear.

"They want dominion," he replied with a hint of bitterness. "They believe that vampires should rule over humans, not hide among them. They've grown tired of living in secrecy, and they're willing to risk everything to achieve their vision of a new world order."

Blaire took a moment to process this information. She heard a distant applause and the sweet notes of singing as the lights dimmed in the gala hall. Alexi moved and covered her ears, and she startled but stood there. It was a lot to take in, and she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the weight of the revelation. "So, what's your plan then? Why bring me here?"

"Because, I don't think I can get you out of here safely." He paused, his voice muted and she mostly read his lips,"I know about you Blaire, and I think we have something each other want."

She kept her tones hushed, "What is going on? How could you have what I want?" His candor and directness made her retreat a few steps lifting her hand to his hands. He was quicker, stronger.

"Julia's murderer is from The House of Adze." Alexei turned his chilling eyes back to her, and then said. He didn't expect her to understand. He pulled her closer, stepping behind her to whisper in her ear, holding her other closed, "Listen, just listen. I know humans, and humanity well. You think you have nothing left to lose, but you're wrong. You will not like this path, but here we are. You are smart, you are driven, and you will end up doing what you need to in order to protect humanity if this power struggle starts to invade the human world."

Almost as if on cue, Blaire noticed a distinct difference in the color of their surroundings. The once soft blues and azures captured in their hidden sanctuary beneath the water was becoming pink, and streaked red. Beneath his words she heard the sound of the singing drift hazy notes through the air. Muted were the sounds of screams, so muted it took Blaire a moment to realize what they were beneath the captivating vocals.

As the reality of the situation sunk in, Blaire's heart pounded in her chest like a relentless drum. The once enchanting water feature now served as a macabre canvas, painting a horrifying scene beyond its translucent barrier. Through the distorted colors, she could make out obscured shapes moving erratically in the ballroom. Shadows writhed in the crimson hue, hinting at the unspeakable horror unfolding before her eyes.

Vampires, their true forms hidden behind the watery screen, were feasting upon the unsuspecting gala attendees. The night that had promised elegance and celebration had turned into a nightmarish banquet of blood and terror. Blaire's mind struggled to comprehend the grotesque spectacle unfolding before her, yet her instincts screamed at her to flee, to escape the clutches of this monstrous nest.

Alexei's returned his grip to her, and instinctively covered her mouth, which was trying to scream. She wanted to turn her head, to look away from the horrifying scene, but a morbid curiosity kept her eyes fixated on the glass. The muffled sounds of agony and despair reached her ears, gnawing at her sanity with each passing second. It was a symphony of terror that she could never forget. Alexei sensed this and moved his hand from her ear over her eyes.

He felt tears welle up in Blaire's eyes, and stood there motionless in the silence trying to brush them away. The fire in her core grew, forcing her eyes shut. She tried to will it to stop, but it was futile.

Alexei's voice came in a hushed whisper, "You don't have to watch, but you can't scream." He said, and he asked her, "Do you want me to move my hand?" She continued to shut out the word, and to her surprise, she shook her head. He held her there against the coldness of his body and hummed a bit to try to keep the sounds of muted chaos at bay. He started talking softly again, "The plans are already in motion, and it is worst than I thought. Blaire, if I tried to stop this I woud have been slaughtered. I sensed it. There's someone who is more powerful than we realize pulling the strings behind it all."

Feeling trapped and helpless, Blaire reluctantly listened to then relaxed against Alexei. Finding his words as grounds in the torrent. She desperately tried to focus on anything else, anything other than the chaos unfolding just inches away, beyond the glass. She strained to listen, and through the chaos, she could hear familiar voices-the raucous laughter of Marty Schultz, mingling with other human voices. Confused, she tried to make sense of what she was hearing.

As she listened more intently, Alexei hummed a bit louder, keeping the sound beneath the ruh of the water. Blaire's heart sank, realizing the dreadful truth. Marty Schultz, the charismatic politician, was being promised the world by these monstrous vampires. Their delight in his vulnerability and eagerness was sickening to hear. They were encouraging him towards a path of gory debauchery, luring him further into their web of darkness.

Marty then began also killing attendees, to the gasps and frightened shouts of others, though most resolved to remain in their trances. The singing long having been silenced. Blaire's emotions churned, her stomach knotting with a nauseating mix of fear, anger, and resolve. Her initial horror was replaced by a cold detachment as she watched the vampires brutally kill Marty, mocking him with their laughter.

Unable to bear the weight of what she had witnessed, Blaire's consciousness began to fade. The magnitude of the truth she had learned overwhelmed her, and she collapsed against Alexei, losing consciousness, scooped up in Alexei's arms hearing his words, "I am so sorry."