The warm July wind teased the grass and briefly troubled the trees. A thin sliver of moon glinted like an unsheathed scimitar in the sky. The elderly gentleman rose from his seat and walked towards the four remaining cars. He passed Alexandre.
‘Good evening,’ the man doffed his brown fedora, displaying a full head of white hair.
‘Good evening,’ Alexandre replied.
The man hesitated. ‘Alexandre?’
Alex snapped his head up to look at the man, who smiled gently back with a look of ... apology?’
‘You. You are he?’ Alexandre stood. ‘You sent me the note?’
‘Yes, it was I who sent you the note. And I do apologise for the cloak and dagger way in which I got you to meet me here.’
Alexandre appraised the man. He must have been in his mid to late seventies. He seemed in good health, handsome and well-dressed in an expensive suit. He was tall and fairly upright, but with a walking cane. He was undoubtedly human, unarmed and unthreatening. Alexandre sensed no other people in the vicinity, apart from the youths who were some way off, oblivious to anything but themselves.
‘Please explain why you thought this was necessary,’ Alexandre said, sitting back down on the bench. The man openly appraised Alexandre.
‘You are magnificent!’ he exhaled. ‘Absolutely extraordinary. I cannot believe I am actually in your presence. May I?’ The man pointed to a spare section of the bench that Alexandre sat on.
Alexandre hesitated and then nodded once. The man sat down heavily next to him. ‘You do not know how long I have waited to have this conversation,’ he continued.
‘And so is that what this is all about?’ Alexandre said. ‘Satisfying your curiosity? Am I some circus turn you might stare and prod at?’ He felt an indignant fury. ‘I did not come here to be admired or to be complimented. Speak quickly for I have a mind to leave at once.’
‘Please do not. I am sorry if I have offended you. It is just … I am somewhat overawed by your presence.’
‘Sir!’ Alexandre’s patience was stretching.
‘I believe I can help you. My name is Winston Blythe and I would like to show you something.’
He pulled something from his inside jacket pocket. It was a recent colour photograph. Alexandre took the picture. It was a picture of someone lying on a bed. A man in his early thirties. He was asleep, dressed in a style of clothing dating from Alexandre’s era or maybe a little more old fashioned.
He reminded Alexandre of someone, or of something. Yes. He looked like the sleeping forms of the others: of Isobel, Jacques, Leonora and Freddie. He looked like a statue, like a vampire.
Blythe stared intently at Alexandre’s face, waiting.
‘You recognise the condition.’
‘A vampire,’ Alexandre said. ‘Who is he?’
‘He is my great grandfather,’ Blythe replied. ‘I never even knew him. He’s been asleep for one hundred and forty six years. It is my family’s tragedy. Our skeleton in the closet, so to speak.’
‘I must admit I am surprised,’ Alexandre said. ‘This is the last thing I expected.’
‘I also have two confessions to make to you,’ Blythe said. ‘And I am more than a little nervous about telling you. But I trust you will understand why I did it and I hope you can forgive me.’
‘It was you then? Who paid that man in the supermarket car park?’ Alexandre asked, already knowing the answer.
‘I’m sorry. Yes it was. You see I had to be sure you really were who I thought you were. I felt terrible about that poor fellow. He must have had the shock of his life.’
‘You said you had two confessions.’
‘Aah, yes. Now this one I am a little more ashamed of and you must believe me it wasn’t meant to get so out of hand. My employees took it much too far. But it was ultimately my doing - that fracas you got into at the nightclub …’
‘That was you?’ Alexandre stood up angrily. ‘Why on earth would you want to insult my companion and have two scoundrels attack me?’
‘None of that was supposed to happen,’ Blythe sighed and stood up, leaning heavily on his cane. ‘I told them I needed a sample of your hair to test. They assured me they would get it with the minimum of fuss, but as it turned out, they got it with the very maximum of fuss.’
‘My hair? Why would you need my hair?’
‘We are trying to find a cure for the sleeping sickness my great grandfather contracted. You have overcome the sickness and I thought your DNA might shed some light on how you recovered. I needed the hair for analysis. To see if it would yield any answers. But alas, it was a fruitless effort. Your cells regenerate so quickly they leave no trace of trauma. Your hair is healthy. No clues were left as to what occurred previously.’
‘DNA?’ Alexandre asked.
‘Deoxyribonucleic acid. In short, your cells contain a nucleic acid that houses genetic instructions for all living organisms. A blueprint for life, if you like.’
‘But why did you not just approach me in the first place and eliminate all this secrecy? You could merely have sent me the note in the first instance.’
‘Well yes, in hindsight that would have been a much better way to approach things. But I didn’t want to involve you or disrupt your life in any way. I wanted just to establish that you were who I thought you were, find out how you were revived and leave you in peace. Instead I have alarmed you and intruded upon your life. For that I am truly sorry.’
Alexandre thought for a few moments. Blythe seemed sincere enough. He was an elderly man with a plausible story. Alexandre suddenly remembered something.
‘You said we could help each other. How does this help me?’
‘Ah yes. Well the thing is, I know about the others in your cellar.’
Alexandre grabbed Winston by the throat.
‘Who are you?’ he growled. ‘How do you know about me and the others? How do you know I was asleep? That I woke up? Start talking. I want answers, old man. I have no patience for games and I am suddenly angry.’
Winston Blythe faltered and dropped his cane. Alexandre pushed him down onto the bench where he sat, dazed and apprehensive.
‘Talk quickly,’ Alexandre said.
‘I … I am a partner in an old established firm. We have been monitoring Marchwood House for a number of years and we knew there were five of you who were dormant. We are actually a firm of solicitors. Our name is Hamilton Blythe. I am Winston Blythe, a partner in the firm.’
‘So you are the firm who looked after the house before Madison inherited.’
‘That is correct.’
‘You knew of our existence there, but you left us alone. Why?’
‘As I said before, I did not wish to disturb you in any way. I just want to help my great grandfather.’
‘And is this really your great grandfather?’ Alex thrust the photograph in front of the solicitor’s face. ‘Or was that just a lie to soften things up?’
Blythe took it with a shaking hand.
‘It is true. I am not lying to you. I am trying to be scrupulously honest. Maybe too honest for my own damn good. When it came to our attention one of you had awoken, well we were excited. You may hold the key to reviving my relative.
‘There are no other conscious vampires in the world. As far as we know they all succumbed to this disease many years ago. I have so many questions to ask you, but the most important one is how you came to be awake. If you tell me this, I am sure I can help you to revive the others. We have a controlled environment and specialist equipment to ensure no harm comes to them. Will you at least consider enlightening me?’
‘I have to think,’ Alexandre said brusquely. He left Winston Blythe on the bench and travelled a mile or so along the ridge until he felt calmer. He reviewed the information in his mind.
He had to ask himself, did he trust this man? Then he had to weigh up if giving this information to him could be dangerous in any way. But all he could think of was Isobel and the others. This could be a chance to sa
fely revive them. He missed them so much. Winston said it was a disease that affected all of his kind. So those in Cappadocia must have contracted it. That would explain why they had all been half-asleep when they attacked. If they had been fully conscious the whole region would probably have been ravaged by now.
He returned to Blythe who was still sitting on the bench.
‘I didn’t know if you were going to come back,’ the old man said. ‘I realise this is an awful lot of information to absorb. Do you wish to think on it and speak to me at a later date?’
‘I am sorry if I was a little rough with you before. But you took me aback and I am still getting used to my own strength. The others are everything to me and if I thought they were under threat …’
‘It is quite understandable. The others? Are they your family?’
‘Two are my siblings and two are my friends, Harold Swinton’s children.’
‘Aah, Madison Greene’s ancestors! How remarkable.’
‘How do you know for certain you could revive them? What makes you so sure?’
‘I do not know for certain. But I do know we would have an excellent shot at it. We have been researching this for decades and we have experts on hand, the best minds in the world. But I was never willing to try anything too risky to revive my great grandfather. I couldn’t take that chance with his life. I need more solid information.’
‘But this is how I feel about my family. I woke by chance, a pure accident and I am not prepared to recreate those conditions, for it may end up killing them. It is not my place to risk their lives. I suppose I hoped they would awaken naturally.’
‘I am sorry to inform you that will never happen. The disease runs through their bodies, keeping them unconscious, with just the occasional involuntary movement. If you do not intervene in some way, then I’m afraid they will stay that way forever.’
‘So tell me what you propose,’ Alexandre said, sitting next to Blythe and leaning forward.
‘I cannot propose anything without possessing all the facts. If and when you are ready to impart this information, perhaps you would contact me.’ Blythe stood up and handed Alexandre his card. ‘It was an interesting evening. Thank you for coming. I do appreciate you giving an old man some of your time.’ He began to walk back to his car.
Alexandre had not expected him to leave so abruptly. ‘Wait!’
Winston Blythe turned to look at him and Alexandre made a decision.
‘I will tell you what happened to revive me. I will tell you. If there is the smallest chance for the others then I must take it.’
Alexandre told him everything.
*
‘You did what?’ Madison asked. ‘I can’t believe you told a complete stranger all about yourself. It’s just not like you.’
Alexandre had returned home to find Madison asleep in the lounge. He looked at her features, so calm in sleep and he felt a wash of love and desire for her. He also felt a twinge of guilt at the way he had abandoned her every night this week. He knew she had been sad at his disappearances and thought him paranoid and over-cautious. She had told him not to worry, that nobody was out to get him and in a way she had been right. He would make it up to her. He wanted to make it up to her, to spend time with her and do all those things they had planned. Once he had his family back, they could all be together and he and Madison would have all the time in the world to be in love.
But when he told her about Winston Blythe, she looked at him as if he was completely mad.
‘Madison, if it were your brother, what would you have done?’ he asked, willing her to understand.
‘I know what I wouldn’t have done. I wouldn’t have told a nosy old git my business.’
‘You are being obtuse.’
‘Dunno what that means, but please don’t call me it again. All I’m doing is worrying about you. If that’s a crime then shoot me.’
‘I appreciate your worry and your concern, but it is unnecessary. You did not meet this man. His great grandfather is a vampire, which makes him sympathetic to us. Do you not see? This is my opportunity to try to revive them. I have to at least try. This is the safest option. The only option.’
‘Alex, I dunno what it was like when you were human, but nowadays, you can’t trust people. There are so many nutters and con merchants around, real scum, you know? People doing stuff you wouldn’t believe if you read about it. This bloke could be anyone. Even if he is who he says he is and he owns Hamilton Blythe, still doesn’t mean he’s straight up. Those rich blokes, they’re the biggest arseholes of the lot.’
‘Madison, stop. I know what you are saying and I love you for it, but I am doing this.’
‘Fine.’
*
Madison had gone to bed in the worst mood. She couldn’t believe Alexandre had trusted a stranger with his secrets. She had dozed on and off, feeling exhausted and slightly delirious from so many broken nights sleep. She now sat up in bed - knees bent, pillows propped up behind her - looking across at the open French windows and the stone balcony. She would have to close the shutters soon before the morning sun cast its rays into the room.
She saw the outline of the trees and thin wisps of pale clouds against a black sky. Thank goodness Ben didn’t know about all this. He was happy in summer-holiday mode, unaware of any drama or tension. That was the benefit of living at different ends of the day.
And what about her and Alex? Only days ago, they’d been so close and now they were at completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Why couldn’t he see how dangerous this was? For all of them. She wondered if Vasey-Smith was involved. She had half a mind to call him, but what would she even say?
And then she suddenly realised something that outraged her – Hamilton Blythe had known about the vampires in the house but they’d still allowed a sixteen-year-old girl and a twelve-year-old boy to move in here by themselves! Didn’t that say something about the type of people they were? I mean, who in their right mind would let that happen? It made no difference that the vampires were unconscious; it was just an outrageous thing to do.
Madison was also troubled by something else. She didn’t like to admit it, but as well as being concerned for Alexandre’s safety, she was also scared at the prospect of meeting his family and friends - her ancestors. She was terrified in fact. What if they woke up and didn’t like her? What if they didn’t get along and they wanted to leave and take Alexandre with them? Or if they kicked her and Ben out? Everything would change and she could very well lose him.
She didn’t know what she’d do if he left her. She wouldn’t be able to carry on with her life. It would have no meaning. Any which way she looked at things, it could all turn to shit. Yes, she was scared of a lot of things, but losing Alexandre was the worst. She tried to rationalise it all in her mind but there was so much going on in there, she thought her brain might melt. Well, that would solve everything. Then at least I wouldn’t have to think about anything anymore.
Would her life ever follow a steady pattern? She had been allowed a glimpse of heaven for a few precious days. She and Alex were in love, were still in love, but their bliss had been stolen by bloody Winston effing Blythe. She kicked at her covers like a child and folded her arms.
Please God let her be wrong about everything. Let Blythe be the kindest, nicest man on earth. Let him restore Alexandre’s family to him and revive her relatives. Let the other vampires be as wonderful as Alexandre and then they could all live happily ever after. But Madison no longer believed in fairytales. She only believed in promises broken, dreams shattered and shit hitting fans. She could see her life disintegrating like a wet tissue. Please let her be wrong. She slid down under the covers, closed her eyes and tried again to sleep.
*
He would allow her to calm down. He would leave her to sleep tonight and maybe tomorrow she would see he was following the only course of action he could. He needed her to be on his side, to understand why he had trusted this stranger.
Sitting ou
tside on a cane chair with his feet up on a low glass-topped table, Alexandre was on the back terrace below Madison’s bedroom. He looked up at her balcony and smiled as he thought of Romeo and Juliet. The smile left his lips as he remembered how that tale had ended.
Alexandre remained there for the rest of the night, letting his mind drift over everything without really touching upon the details. He had already made up his mind and so there was no point in thinking too deeply. And now sunrise was almost here and the darkness would scatter. He looked out across the ornamental garden to the woods beyond, where a faint glow could be anticipated.
He always felt melancholy as night ended and dawn approached, like he was clinging desperately onto the remnants of something he didn’t even want.
Chapter Twenty Eight
*
The following morning, Alexandre inched opened Madison’s door. Good, the shutters were closed and all lay in darkness. He climbed into bed without a noise and stared at her; his fiery modern girl. He loved her spirit even though it sometimes exasperated him. At least he knew exactly what she thought. She did not play silly games or make him guess at what she wanted from him. She told him in a straightforward manner. She was his equal. And yet here, asleep, she looked so sweet and mild-mannered, so ...
‘Are you staring at me again while I’m asleep, Alex?’ she asked, her eyes still closed.
‘And if I am?’
She opened her eyes and smiled sleepily.
‘I apologise,’ he said. ‘I did not mean to wake you. You must be tired.’
‘I’m okay. Still a bit mad at you though.’ She launched straight into what was on her mind. ‘You do realise that Blythe geezer let me and Ben move in here, knowing you vampires were down in the cellar.’ She propped herself up on one elbow.
‘But we were hidden away and unconscious.’
‘Yeah, but so what? You’re still vampires. He didn’t know you weren’t like those other ones.’
‘Madison, I thought that was all in the past. Are you not glad we found each other? Do you wish I were not here?’
‘Of course not! I love you, Alex. All I’m saying is he’s the type of bloke who doesn’t care about me or Ben or you. He just thinks about what he wants and you better hope it don’t clash with what you want.’