Chapter 7 The Underlobby

As Isabella approached the Volkov Group building, the darkening sky signaled that it was already 9:30 PM. The driver who had taken her had no reflection, which sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn't help but feel unnerved by the thought of being in the presence of a vampire, even if they were on the same side now. Nevertheless, she pushed aside her unease and stepped out of the car, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Monique was waiting for her in the lobby, her confident demeanor putting Isabella at ease. "You're right on time," Monique said with a smile, her blue eyes shining with warmth. A warmth that put Isabella on edge. A warmth that Isabella knew, by instinct, was absent from Monique's soul. It was difficult to process, but Monique continued with her lively facade, "I hope the journey here wasn't too unsettling."

Isabella took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "It's... different, that's for sure," she admitted, glancing back at the driver who was still waiting in the car, his impassive expression giving nothing away.

Monique led her to a discreet corner of the lobby where a private reinforced elevator awaited them. The elevator's sleek and modern interior contrasted with the reinforced walls that hinted at the secrets it held. As the doors closed behind them, Isabella felt a slight jolt as it began its descent. She realized they were going down, not up like the first time she had visited this building.

Her curiosity got the better of her, and she turned to Monique with an inquisitive look. "Why are we going down? Where exactly are we heading?"

Monique smiled knowingly. "We're heading to the underground facility of the Volkov Group," she explained. "It's where most of our operations take place, including training and strategic planning. Don't worry; it's perfectly safe, and you'll soon get used to it."

As the elevator continued its descent, Isabella couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness. The journey seemed to take longer than she expected, and the realization that she was descending deep into the bowels of the city added to the sense of mystery surrounding the Volkov Group.

Finally, the elevator doors opened, revealing a vast underlobby that resembled an opulent hotel lobby. The décor was lavish, with rich mahogany, black, and crimson tones adorning the space. The seal of the House of Domovoi, the symbol of the Volkov Group, was prominently displayed, exuding an air of authority.

As Isabella looked around the opulent Underlobby, she couldn't help but notice the graceful movements of the occupants as they glided through the space. Their inhuman beauty was mesmerizing, and she couldn't deny the elegance that exuded from their every gesture. Yet, the realization that she was the only human amidst these powerful beings unnerved her. It dawned on her that they probably could smell her blood. She could feel their ancient presence, a stark reminder of her mortality in the midst of immortality.

Her skepticism remained intact, as she knew the stories of vampires and their dark nature all too well. She observed their interactions, noting the subtle undercurrents of authority and dominance. Despite her subtle bravery, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was a mere mortal surrounded by immortal predators. Every time they glanced at her, she felt the weight of their gaze. Feeling hunger, restrained hunger, behind their eyes. It prickled the back of her neck.

As Isabella was lost in her thoughts, she was snapped back to reality by the arrival of Alexei. The moment he entered the room, her eyes were drawn to him, and for a moment, she found herself mesmerized by his presence. He adjusted his cufflinks with ease, exuding an aura of power and confidence.

"Ah, Monique, you've brought our newest recruit," Alexei said in a smooth voice, addressing Isabella. "Welcome to the Volkov Group, Isabella Blackwood. I trust Monique has been giving you a warm welcome."

Isabella managed a nod, her eyes briefly meeting Monique's before returning to Alexei. She was torn between her feelings of apprehension and fascination with him. However, her attention was soon drawn to the handsome assistant standing beside Alexei. Alexei turned to this man and introduced him as "Claude Vanhatten, my assistant in the Underlobby." The man beside Alexei gave her a quick silent nod, his demeanor distant and slightly disdainful.

Claude was slender and attractive, with brown hair with a touch of copper highlight for interest. He seemed more "European" than the two obvious Russian counterparts beside him. Complete with glasses that added an air of erudition to his appearance, Isabella knew they were pointless for a Bloodsucker. His aura, unlike Monique's, did not try to put her at ease. Instead, it made her feel like she was merely some sort of favored pet to his boss-a tolerable presence, perhaps cute, and potentially useful, but ultimately expendable. Isabella sensed a clear dislike for humans in his demeanor.

She swallowed her unease and mustered a polite smile in response to Claude's nod. It was evident that his feelings were mutual, and she reminded herself that not everyone here would be welcoming or open to her presence.

Monique sensed the tension and shifted to put everyone back at ease, "Master Alexei is here, he is going to be handling your tour." She said, patting Isabella's arm once and beckoned to Claude who immediately stepped to the woman and began resuming speaking about whatever business that was more interesting than Isabella's arrival. The two wandered off, leaving Alexei and Isabella together as the other vampires carried on with their lives around them.

It dawned on Isabella, "This is like a city for vampires, isn't it?"

Alexei offered a winsome grin, "Ah, more like a very exclusive apartment. The city beneath the city is for the vampires. There's several places like this all throughout Manhattan."

Skeptical, Isabella asked, "How is that possible? You can't dig down in Manhattan. There's ..."

"Water-tables, subways, and yes, all sorts of things that make building complex and tiresome. It is also why the Volkov Group invested so heavily in real estate. Come, instead of telling me what is impossible, miss Blackwood, why don't I show you instead what is here, hm?"

As they began the tour, Alexei led Isabella through the underlobby, explaining the various facilities and departments that operated within the hidden world beneath the city. The underlobby truly was like an inverted version of the building above, but instead of offices, it housed rooms for training, research, and other vampire-specific needs.

Isabella marveled at the sheer scale of the place as they walked past opulent lounges, conference rooms, and even a grand library filled with ancient texts and vampire lore. The atmosphere was both mysterious and enticing, and she found herself drawn to the wealth of knowledge that lay hidden within the walls.

As they ventured further, they came across vampires engaged in various activities. Some were training in combat, while others were immersed in discussions about strategy and new technologies. All of them seemed to be in their element, and Isabella couldn't help but wonder how she, a mere human, would fit into this world.

Alexei, sensing her apprehension, reassured her, "You will find your place here, Isabella. The Volkov Group is very particular about who they let in. Your unique perspective as a human will be an asset in the upcoming war."

As they walked through the opulent Underlobby, Isabella couldn't let those words die. War. It echoed in her mind. "Okay, Alexei, enough with the tour guide act. Why did you really recruit me? I highly doubt it's just because you need a grieving insane friend with a vendetta."

Alexei's expression remained composed, but she sensed a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "You're perceptive, Isabella," he replied calmly. "You're right; your personal quest for revenge is not the sole reason for your recruitment. The Volkov Group is selective in its members, and you possess qualities that we find valuable."

Isabella crossed her arms, her voice tinged with frustration. "And what qualities are those exactly? Because I can't imagine what use a mere human like me could be in your war against vampires. I've never killed one. I've only snuck into a party after years of my family telling me I am insane to try to take a picture of one."

Alexei stopped walking and turned to face her directly. "You underestimate yourself, Isabella. We believe you have the potential to be an exceptional hunter. Your determination, resourcefulness, and your understanding of the enemy make you an asset. And you have a stoneheart. All my best hunters have one. That's also why I think you survived and Julia didn't." He paused there, letting that information dangle.

Isabella's eyes narrowed, not entirely convinced. "And what if I refuse? What if I decide this isn't the path I want to take?"

Alexei's tone softened, and he looked at her with genuine concern. "It's your choice, Isabella. No one is forcing you to stay. But I believe you're here for a reason, and deep down, I think you do too. But you already made that choice. There's no life for you to go back to, I was fairly clear on this point last night." He paused and tried a different approach, "You want to make a difference, to protect others from the same fate your friend suffered. This is your chance to do that, to seek justice not just for Julia, but I think you will find that is a bittersweet end of your story. I think you will find what my hunters always find."

Baited, Isabella asked, "And what's that?"

Alexei scanned her face and said, honestly. She could feel it as if they were the first honest words her soul had ever heard, "A reason to live."

This took her back. Isabella felt torn, her emotions in turmoil. Part of her wanted to run away from this dangerous world, to seek a normal life away from the shadows. But another part of her knew that she couldn't ignore the truth of what she had witnessed. And what would she go back to? A family that thinks she is dead. Two friends who thinks he is insane. She couldn't let this go. Not now.

"Alright," Isabella finally conceded, "Show me what you need to show me."

He paused by a wall of security monitors that displayed different areas of the underground facility. "These cameras," he explained, "are fitted with special filters to detect the aura of vampires. You can't really see the vampire you see. Just the... the essence of them. And each one is unique like a fingerprint I suppose." He tapped on the monitor which finally captured Isabella's attention, quelling her anger just a bit. He continued with his diversion, " It helps us monitor movements and identify potential threats. You can see when they get angry." His words darkened, "Or get hungry."

This was like ice water running through her veins. She listened as he continued to explain the cameras, not every monitor seemed to have one. They instead were at the main entrances of the Underlobby, and directed at areas of presumed security. So much security. The risk was real.

"You see, these lenses are exceptionally rare. There's only five I know of." He pointed to them, one at a time, each monitor counting out each one in Russian, "One, Two, Three, Four, Five." He lowered his voice, "This is how much I trust you Isabella, because as I said, we are fighting the same enemy. I am fighting a war, you are avenging your friend, but we have the same beast to behead."

Isabella's anger began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of grim understanding. She couldn't deny that they were, in some sense, fighting the same enemy-a common foe that had taken her sister's life and threatened the safety of innocent people. She took a deep breath to steady herself before responding, "Fine, I get it. We have a common goal. But don't think for a moment that I'm here to become your pet or to be blindly obedient. I know what you are."

Alexei nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I expect you to always understand what I am." He then scanned the cameras revealing, "Everyone at the Volkov Group has their reasons for being here, their own demons to confront. I know that firsthand. Just remember, Isabella, we are dealing with dangerous creatures, and you need to be prepared. I promised you I would teach you how to kill every last one of us. Even me. That's why I want you to see everything-the good and the bad."

Isabella looked at him, her skepticism still present, but she also recognized the genuine concern in his eyes. It was clear that Alexei was a man who had seen his share of darkness, and that darkness had shaped him into the leader he was now. It was why the others deferred to him. They treated him with such respect. That's when it dawned on her, she asked, "You're one of the twelve elders."

Alexei offered a brief grin, "Hm. Someone's been reading. No, but close. Vlad, my father, is one of The Twelve. One of the five remaining. I am the last turned of his first descended, only ten of us remain."

This didn't make much sense to Isabella and Alexei knew it. So, he just let that information stew as he moved to continue the tour, "Come, I'll introduce you to the other hunters. They're eager to meet you."