Chapter 5: A Walk in the Woods
Paige stood in the lobby watching the bustling activity as vampires filled the area either to chat or to make their way towards the large conference room where the primary meeting was scheduled to take place. It was still early morning, and very few humans were around, mostly hotel staff.
Her thoughts drifted to the previous evening's reception and the interesting and attractive Dr. Ethan Reynolds. He had surprised her with his disarming charm and good looks, which was exactly why she needed to keep her guard up.
Could be a mole trying to glean information concerning Alton's plans, she suspiciously pondered. But then, what if he's simply a nice guy trying to get to know me at a purely social level?
Great, she surmised with a wry expression. I'm turning into Katrina.
Her eyes continued to sweep the expansive lobby and fell upon a briefcase-carrying vampire of medium height and build who had stopped to talk with Major Pietari. She recognized the brown-haired Croatian vampire as Baldar Dubravko, one of the primary investors who had funded the hotel's expansion specifically for the purposes of hosting the conference. She watched as the major conversed with Dubravko in a casual manner.
Are they previously acquainted?
As Pietari invited the Croatian into the security office, a familiar voice sounded to distract her attention.
"Good morning, Paige. Coffee?" Dr. Reynolds brightly asked as he extended the small Styrofoam cup of steaming liquid to her.
She accepted the cup with a peculiar expression, but pleasantly regarded the handsome physician. "Thanks," she replied.
Observing her reaction, Reynolds inquired, "You don't like coffee, do you?"
She took a quick sip. Though it seemed a nice blend, coffee wasn't something that she regularly drank.
"Sure, I like it well enough," she replied with a shrug. "I'm just a little surprised to see a vampire who drinks it first thing in the morning instead of a steaming cup of the red stuff.
His eyebrows momentarily furrowed. "I usually don't like drinking blood in front of other people," he explained.
She wrestled with the oddity of his statement, given that he was a vampire.
You've got a lot of layers to you, don't you? she determined.
"Don't like blood, do you?" she mimicked with a mischievous look.
He knowingly grinned in response, mimicking her with an exaggerated shrug. "Well, sure. I like it well enough. "
She brightly smiled over his ploy, appreciating his gentle eyes.
You do get more interesting by the minute, Ethan.
As soon as Katrina walked through the double oak doors leading into the large, conservatively-decorated conference room, she knew from the host of vampires gathered there that it was going to be an interesting conference.
She momentarily appreciated the oversized, rectangular walnut conference table that seemed to go on forever down the length of the center of the room. Its polished surface was like some sort of launching platform for a small aircraft, and she wondered how many sections it had needed to be cut into in order to install it in the room.
Over fifty chairs were assembled around the table, with the far end vacant of seating. The end closest to the main doors sported a leather chair with a placard labeled "Chairperson - Alton Rutherford" before it.
She shook her head, never doubting that Alton had prepared for nearly everything.
Including a soon-to-be-nominated co-chair.
Vampires filed into the room and sought seats around the large table. Alton purposefully walked into the room and placed a stack of handouts and folders at the head of the table.
"Good morning, Katrina," he offered and gestured with one hand to an empty seat at the end of the table immediately to his left.
"Good morning, Alton," she politely replied, selecting instead to go to the far side of the room to a seat at the extreme end.
You'll have me there soon enough, she sulked.
Much to her satisfaction, he sourly acknowledged her before readopting his former professional visage.
Talise took the seat Alton had previously pointed out to Katrina with a friendly nod in her direction. The remaining seats were quickly filled, save for the one next to Katrina. The dark-haired vampire who had harassed Caleb entered the room and instantly located an available seat. His face quickly fell upon realizing that the only remaining place was next to Katrina.
His face turned stony as he sat down and politely murmured, "Good morning, Ms. Rawlings. "
"Why, good morning. Ambrogio, isn't it?" she replied with a sardonic glare before focusing on the others around the table.
Big bully, she added as an afterthought.
Two vampires wearing black business suits reached in to close the oak doors behind them, leaving the room to those gathered around the table. On cue, silence fell across the room, and everyone looked to Alton with a mix of curious or expectant expressions.
"Welcome, everyone, to what I hope will be a beneficial dialogue for each of us," he began in a practiced tone. "This is the first of its kind to my knowledge: a vampire summit of sorts. An opportunity for us to work collectively towards mutually beneficial solutions to the host of challenges facing our kind.
"But first, let's go around the table to introduce ourselves. I'm Alton Rutherford, your chairperson," he said before gesturing to Talise to continue the introductions.
A number of the names were familiar to Katrina, many from the reception the prior evening. Still, she was surprised by how many in the room were unknown to her. Even more mysteriously, a quarter of the participants were acting as proxies for other vampires, though they merely indicated that they represented "other interested vampire parties" rather than revealing specific names. For some reason, that troubled her more than the bullies like the vampire seated next to her.
Following the introductions, Alton continued, "Now, as a matter of formality, I recommend we select a co-chair to serve in the event that I'm unable to preside over activities for any reason. Do I have any nominations or volunteers?"
Everyone curiously surveyed the faces around them for a few silent moments. Then Talise spoke up in a clear voice, "I nominate Katrina Rawlings. "
"I second," announced the auburn-haired Dutch vampire named Rianne. She was a long-time acquaintance of Katrina's.
"I nominate Baldar Dubravko," announced a male vampire of Asian descent.
"Second for Baldar Dubravko," said a female vampire of Middle Eastern decent.
The room quickly fell silent, and Alton directed, "Very well. I have two nominations on the floor. I'll pass out blank cards and ask each of you to write either Baldar's or Katrina's name as your preference. The cards can be placed in this manila envelope, and we'll immediately tally the results here at the table. "
Minutes later, the envelope returned to Alton, who placed the cards face-up with Katrina to his right and Baldar to his left. The process was expedient, and by the end, Katrina had received two-thirds of the vote.
"As you can see, with a definitive majority, I name Katrina Rawlings as our new co-chair," Alton announced, followed by a small round of clapping from the group.
Katrina returned polite nods in response, though inside she dreaded her new promotion.
I really just wanted to be a fly on the wall through this, she lamented.
Small murmurings of conversation began, which prompted Alton to continue, "With that concluded, let's discuss some of the key objectives of our gathering. Given the recent events involving the rogue vampire, Chimalma, it's clear that we could benefit from a formalized format for settling disputes between rival vampires and their interests. "
"It's called battle," one vampire mumbled. "Kill the other guy first. "
A few chuckles erupted, but silence followed a stern gaze from Alton.
"A mutual acknowledgement of declared vampire territories is a start. In addition,
common rights and privileges to be observed by participating vampires may help," he soberly offered. "Furthermore, continued technological advancements by the humans suggests that we would benefit from a common approach to handling potential breaches of discovery by them or their governments," Alton continued.
"A time will come when we won't be able to hide ourselves," a female vampire interrupted. "It's going to come to war eventually. "
Katrina's eyes bored into Alton from across the room with a look of concern.
A war must be avoided, she silently insisted.
"Perhaps not," Alton countered, having noted her expression. "Suffice to say, a planned and unified approach to the topic would be best. "
Murmurs of agreement spread throughout the room.
"As the ranks of vampires internationally grow, addressing the problem of providing a reasonable means of financial sustainment would stabilize the vampire community. We can explore an organized mentorship for new vampires with opportunities for building financial stability through service," Alton suggested. "It's a reasonable way to shape the future of our culture, while also easing the transition of conversion. "
"Too many vampires already, in my view," one vampire grumbled.
A few noises of agreement followed.
"It's my hope that we can leave this summit with an agreeable framework related to these and other issues in hopes of refining details later in subsequent conferences such as this. With some hope, we may even find absent stakeholders who choose to take part in person," Alton pointedly suggested, all the while monitoring a number of participants who were serving as proxies.
"You're expecting instant solutions to these and other problems by chatting in a room over glasses of blood?" Dominic Ambrogio sarcastically inquired.
"Though well-intentioned, the agenda does seem somewhat unrealistic at first consideration," Baldar agreed in support.
Katrina closely watched the exchange. Her suspicious mind raced as she observed the subtle reinforcement taking place. A blonde female vampire across from Katrina nodded in seeming agreement with Dubravko.
Alton raised a hand in a peaceable gesture, conceding, "Admittedly, this venture isn't without its challenges. But at the risk of validating a prescient suggestion by Mr. Ambrogio, perhaps this would be a good time for a glass of blood during which time we can properly transfer Ms. Rawlings to the head of the table where the co-chair sits. "
Katrina subtly rolled her eyes and kept from groaning out loud.
I'm already regretting this.
When Caleb woke, it was well past ten o'clock in the morning. He stretched in bed with a yawn, glancing at the empty spot next to him where Katrina had been the night before. A note lay on her pillow, and he reached over to pick it up. He took a moment to focus his still-weary eyes on the text.
Caleb,
Thank you for last night. I'll probably be in the conference all day, so find something enjoyable to do until evening. We'll go to dinner together and do some sightseeing. Please try to stay out of trouble, my love.
Love,
Kat
He shook his head while lying the note on the nightstand.
"I'll certainly try," he murmured.
Then he rolled out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom to shave and start the day.
Paige sat at her small desk in the security office with a bored expression, staring listlessly at the multiple computer screens before her that displayed the various video surveillance camera images from all across the conference facility. With a series of mouse clicks, the images changed to cameras watching the outdoor areas.
Some cameras were placed outside the various buildings, while others observed from perches atop light poles. It seemed that virtually every area could be spied upon by the network of digital cameras. However, she knew that was an exaggeration, having inspected each camera location herself to familiarize herself with their placement
It's not as if every camera sees in all directions at once, either.
Though significant funds had been spent to install a reasonable network of viewing possibilities, the system failed to provide complete coverage at all times. It would have seemed like overkill for such a brief conference. The major had explained to her that the system had to be realistic to maintain after the conference ended and regular vacationing humans returned to using the facility as a scenic vacation retreat.
The door gently opened, and her eyes darted to spy Caleb as he entered. She brightly grinned at him and motioned with her hand for him to enter.
"Hey, look who's finally up and around," she teased.
"You mean you didn't see me coming?" he shot back while moving to sit in a chair set before her desk. "What kind of security captain are you, anyway?"
She cast a withering expression and pointed to the screens before her.
"Hey, I'm only one set of eyes for all these miniaturized windows, all right, Mr. Sarcasm? Hell, I can't even get all the viewing screens up at one time. Gotta cycle through three sets just to look at them all. "
"You could always add another monitor to the two you already have," he suggested. "I'm sure they could add another video card and install the drivers for the -"
"Yeah, yeah, thanks for the advice, Bill Gates. "
"I can tell you're having fun with this. "
She snorted and shook her head. The phone rang, and she glared at it while picking up the receiver.
"Security office. Captain Turner speaking," she answered in a flat voice.
He was amused by her bored tone.
"What? Yes, ma'am, I'm sure it's a crime that the kitchen brought cold food to your room, but it's honestly not a security matter," she explained with an incredulous expression.
He had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
"Well, you could always withhold a tip," she suggested.
She patiently listened as the animated woman's voice complained back at her. Finally, she rubbed at her eyes with the fingertips of her free hand and said, "Um, ma'am, let me transfer you to the desk manager. Please hold. "
Her fingers quickly played across the telephone's keypad, and she stated, "Yeah, this is Turner. I've got an angry eater on the line for you. Something about cold food. Good luck. Here she is. "
With that, she hung up the phone and cursed under her breath.
"Geez, I hate this job already," she muttered.
He couldn't help but grin back at her in response.
At the sound of the main office door, her eyes darted to the visitor. Caleb swiveled in his seat to view a young man holding a brown leather briefcase in one hand.
The Mediterranean-looking fellow uneasily looked towards the major's office and asked, "Is Major Pietari here, please?"
Paige frowned at the man's awkward behavior, but smoothly answered, "Nope. The major stepped out, but I expect him any moment. Can I help you?"
"No," he said. "I'll just come back later. "
Then he abruptly turned and departed the office in what seemed a hurried fashion.
"Strange," she observed.
Her attention quickly returned to Caleb.
"Just what are you doing down here, anyway?" she asked. "Katrina brings you all the way to Europe, and you want to just sit around a hotel security office?"
"Yeah, well, I was just on my way to get something to eat. Afterwards, I guess I'll look around the place. Kat's note said I needed to occupy my time until evening. "
"Fine, but if you don't like the food, just keep it to yourself, okay, kiddo?"
He chuckled and shook his head at her. Despite Kat's absence, he was happy that Paige was around. His surrogate vampire was such an important part of his life.
As if sensing his emotions, she smiled back at him for a moment. She loved his kind nature and easy disposition and was quite attached to the young man.
Under different circumstances, he might even be mine, she th
ought on a whim.
However, her smile quickly faded, and she silently chastised herself for letting her thoughts stray in such a direction.
Dangerous territory, she estimated before refocusing on the monitors before her.
"Okay, okay, go get something to eat, or I'll have to ticket you for loitering," she teased with a dismissive wave of her hand.
As he rose, Major Pietari walked in and scanned the office before settling his gaze upon the sandy-haired human. Caleb immediately extended his hand. The major suspiciously peered at him before gripping his hand.
"Caleb Taylor," the young man offered with a shake.
"Major Kivo Pietari," the tall vampire replied. He shifted his attention to Paige, critically observing, "No visitors while on duty, Captain. "
"Um, I was just leaving," Caleb interjected. "In fact, Paige just admonished me about loitering. "
The major's sharp eyes fell upon him as if studying him for a moment. Then he merely grunted in reply.
Caleb proceeded to the door. Before closing the door behind him completely, he heard Paige inform the major, "You missed an odd little visitor a few minutes ago. "
Following his visit with Paige, Caleb went to the hotel's central restaurant for an early lunch. There were only a few patrons dispersed throughout the dining room, none of whom he knew, so he quietly sat and observed his surroundings while he ate. He noticed that the staff all seemed polite, though pensive, for some reason. Perhaps they weren't used to being around vampire guests.
Then the thought struck him that he was surrounded by seemingly ordinary human staff, and he wondered how the vampires had managed to maintain any sense of privacy concerning their gathering with so many potential "loose lips" around. All it would take is one discreet phone call or email to the media, and the place might be crawling with press.
Well, maybe not the mainstream press at first, he mulled. More likely the tabloids expecting an outlandish gathering of vampire-wannabes trying to host a Goth conference.
He shook his head and made a mental note to ask Katrina about it later.
After lunch, he decided to familiarize himself with his surroundings and walked through the main lobby past the various support offices and conference rooms. He came upon two suit-clad vampire guards standing outside the large reception room he had been in the prior evening with Katrina. He recognized both guards from the night before and politely nodded, and each acknowledged him in recognition.
On the back side of the hotel, he came upon a small cluster of boutiques and shops presented in a manner reminiscent of a shopping mall. Light filtered down from above, and he looked up to see large glass panes laid out as an elaborate skylight that ran the length of the small corridor of shops. The light seemed terribly subtle for the clear skies, upon which he noticed that the panes were treated with what must be UV-dampening material. As he proceeded on his tour, he realized that all of the windows in and around the hotel and conference center were likewise treated.
After nearly an hour of wandering, he retrieved a digital camera from his room and journeyed outdoors. The surrounding mountains were breathtaking, and the grass and trees were lush and green. Flower gardens decorated the hotel landscape, as well as a number of small fountains and park benches. He snapped photos as he walked and idly greeted a number of humans whom he recognized as other vampire companions.
Once again, he noted the starkly different demeanors of the hotel guests from the hotel staff. The sole exception seemed to be the security guards who randomly patrolled by. The guards maintained a confident air as they casually strolled about the grounds. Caleb noted a seemingly large quantity of guards on patrol as he walked throughout the acres of land constituting the hotel property.
Paige and the major must have their hands full coordinating such a large staff, he absently determined.
He sat on a park bench facing a large expanse of forest leading away from the main hotel grounds. He made a mental note to explore the forest another time and instead merely appreciated the warm sunshine as it beamed down upon him.
"This is excellent," he muttered, closing his eyes and tilting his face skywards. "Finally, some peaceful relaxation. "
Minutes passed as he basked in the sunlight, leaning back against the bench while stretching his legs out before him.
"There you are," came a familiar woman's voice.
The slight French accent was unmistakable, though Caleb started with surprise and opened his eyes to pan in the direction of the brunette-haired visitor. Only as the sunlight caressed Dorianne Rousseau's pale skin was his mind finally convinced that she was human and not a vampire.
"Hi, Dorianne. "
"Dori," she pleasantly corrected him. "Is this seat taken?"
He made a welcoming gesture as he sat up from his reclined position.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she quietly observed as she sat down beside him.
"It's everything Europe should be," he acknowledged with awe.
He never thought that he would ever have the opportunity, or funds, to visit the places he had been since meeting Katrina.
I'm one lucky guy.
"I confess, I take it for granted sometimes," Dori admitted. "My home is in Paris, but my career regularly takes me across Europe. It's a nice perk of the job. "
He offered a curious expression, hoping that she would say more, but she seemed oddly content to leave it at that.
"I've been to London recently, and it was both unexpected and amazing," he offered.
He thought it best to leave out the part about mysterious vampires haunting the Tube.
"I would imagine. Alton told me about your little subterranean adventure," she said with a smirk.
He frowned at how the normally secretive vampire had shared such sensitive information with her.
"So, have you and Alton known each other long?"
She warmly smiled. "We met nearly a year ago at a business meeting in The Hague, and he immediately caught my attention. My employer assigned me the responsibility of arranging a presentation for Alton and his associates, which, as a research analyst, I specialize in. Despite my practiced expertise, his eyes kept distracting me, and I practically had to fight to remain focused. "
She paused to giggle while covering her mouth with her hand in a manner that Caleb found enchanting.
"Following the presentation, I felt so embarrassed that I left the building as soon as I gathered my materials. But he took the initiative to find me before I returned to Paris and literally swept me off my feet. To say that I was pleased would be an understatement. We've been seeing each other regularly since then, actually. He's, well, wonderful in so many ways. "
Caleb enjoyed her recollection, but he was surprised that Alton had never mentioned Dori to him until the previous evening.
How odd, he thought. I wonder if Kat knows.
However, he conceded that Alton was a very private person and a hard nut to crack. He chuckled at how often Kat found it equally infuriating.
"Have I said something amusing?" she queried.
A single fleeting view of her beautiful, violet-colored eyes was all it took for him to understand how Alton might be intrigued by her.
"Sorry," he replied. "I kind of hate to admit this, but Alton's never actually mentioned you to me. "
An endearing expression played across her face, and she laughed in a beguiling manner.
"Why am I not surprised?" she said. "I suppose he does keep his cards close to the vest. Likely, he was waiting to see if things worked out between us. "
"I guess they must have then," he surmised. "Because here you are. "
"Yes," she noted with a satisfied tone. "I'd like to think you're correct. "
They considered each other in silence, though something unsaid seemed to be settled between them. It was as if a mutual comfort zone, a chemistry, had been mysteriously established.
Caleb felt stra
ngely at ease around Dori, and he shared how he met Katrina when she had enrolled in his history class the previous fall. However, chemistry aside, he wasn't quite ready to discuss how Katrina came upon him initially when he was eight years old. That was something altogether private, though whether Alton had already shared that with Dori or not he didn't know.
She attentively listened to him until he was finished, and the conversation moved to a variety of other casual topics. They seemed like old friends catching up on the events in their lives. Caleb enjoyed getting to know her, and before he realized it, the sun was advancing towards the western horizon.
"We'd better head back," Dori observed. "Alton mentioned our having dinner with you and Katrina when the conference adjourned for the day. "
Caleb recalled the note from Kat, and they rose in unison from the bench. It had been a beautiful afternoon and an enjoyable time getting to know Dori better, though he felt as if there were so much more to know about her. He thoughtfully contemplated all that he had learned and savored the waning daylight on their walk back to the hotel.
Katrina patiently waited as the remaining vampires departed the conference room. It felt like such a long day for their first meeting, and she wondered if successive days would feel the same. Part of her wished that she had declined to attend the summit at all.
Caleb and I could've toured Europe alone, she brooded.
Yet, she held a fond, sometimes annoying, dedication to her former mentor. She realized that she would have felt intense guilt for ignoring his plea for her assistance.
So, here I am.
Alton shuffled some papers and waited for a lingering attendee to depart before closing the door behind them.
"The first day's always the hardest, breaking the ice and whatnot," he absently said in his crisp English accent.
"You've got a lot more to break than ice," she supplemented as she recognized the prevailing mindsets that had formed among the group. One third was receptive to forming a formalized interest group. One third wanted no part in any of it, and those remaining were undecided.
"We have to sway the uncommitted to tip the scales," Alton ventured.
"Why does it matter? Those who want to join into a consortium are free to, and the others can do as they please," Katrina declared.
"But you're mistaken, my dear," Alton gently disagreed. "If this conference ends without a clear consensus among the participants, everyone outside, those remaining to be recruited, will see only division. Then we're left to forming little cliques around the world, like little fiefdoms all vying for vassals. No, I lived through that failed approach nearly a millennium ago, and I won't endure it again. "
She considered her eight-hundred-year-old friend and the life experiences that he drew upon to form his logic. Feudal England was something less than savory on a global level, particularly for her kind. Wars would be the likely result and the end of anonymity from the human race.
"What's next then?" she pressed.
The edges of his mouth upturned slightly.
"You and I need to frame a detailed agenda before moving forward, one based upon addressing the concerns voiced today. "
"Much of today's discussions were over semantics, actually," she countered.
"Indeed. But semantics conceal larger concerns, and the better prepared we are to shape the discussion around those, the more successful we'll be," he explained.
"You're almost relishing this, aren't you? This is like some big parlor game for you, isn't it?"
"Oh, please," he retorted with a flash of his hazel eyes. "Don't assume that just because I was a feudal lord I'm playing at kingdom-building. I've seen the writing on the wall for longer than you've been on this Earth, and I knew it would come to this someday. I take it, then, you'd like to see the world cast into flames while we battle amongst both humans and ourselves?"
"Of course not," she snapped. "I just didn't want to be at the center of the matter, that's all. "
He lightly patted his hand on her shoulder while standing behind her chair.
His stare grew distant as he offered, "I know that, my dear. You always were the shy one, weren't you? Never wanting to be the center of attention, yet always commanding it by your mere presence. I knew that you were an alpha the moment I laid eyes upon you. "
She affectionately touched his hand in silent response. In truth, he had been the kindest of mentors to her and the dearest of friends.
"Come, my dear, let's go find our mates. We promised to join them for dinner, remember?" he offered with a final pat on her shoulder.
Katrina rose from her chair with a curious expression at his revelation. "So, you've taken Dorianne as your mate?"
He paused as he gathered his paperwork into a central stack and placed it in his leather satchel.
"Actually, I meant to announce it at dinner tonight. "
"I'm happy for you," she sincerely offered. She cherished having Caleb in her life, and she wished the same happiness for Alton.
He winked and held the conference room door open for her to exit.
Caleb sat on a leather guest couch in the lobby while watching the stream of vampires exit the hallway leading from the wing of conference and special-purpose rooms. His eyes expectantly swept across the group as he looked for Katrina, while Dori patiently sat beside him reading a travel magazine.
His focus settled on a younger vampire with gold-fleck eyes and short brown hair who was holding a leather briefcase in one hand. Major Pietari walked over to him, and the two of them waited for an available elevator car.
"Hmm. " Something about the briefcase looked familiar to him. Then it occurred to him that the briefcase looked like the one the courier had earlier in the day when he had been visiting Paige in the security office.
"What?" Dori asked as a host of vampires and humans reunited with each other in the lobby.
Her eyes followed his to the major and his fellow vampire. She took a notepad and ink pen from a nearby table and wrote, Major Pietari and Baldar Dubravko?
Caleb's eyes focused on the notepad.
She wrote: Something wrong?
He reached over to take the pad and pen from her and wrote: Briefcase seems important. Something I saw this morning.
Dori's attention shifted to the two vampires just as they entered the elevator, and she spied the item in question. She turned to look at Caleb with a curious expression.
He wrote: Who is BD?
She took the pad from him and wrote, Croatian. Powerful. Wealthy. Big player here.
The wheels in Caleb's mind turned, and he wondered if the man in the security office had delivered the briefcase to Dubravko, or if it had just been a coincidence.
"What are you two up to?" Katrina asked, causing both of them to start in their seat. She distinctly heard their heartbeats jump. Something wrong?
Upon realizing that it was Katrina, Caleb launched himself from the couch and planted a kiss upon her lips.
"Missed you today," he muttered.
More than you know, he silently added.
"Mmm," she murmured into his kiss. Upon parting lips, she whispered with satisfaction, "I see that. "
A strong duality of urges rose in her as she craved his body's blood and other carnal satisfactions.
Alton exchanged a quick kiss with Dori and wrapped one arm around her waist. "Hungry?" he asked. "I don't know about you, but I could drink a horse. "
Dori groaned slightly and shook her head.
"Full disclosure, I got that one from Caleb," he innocently chimed as both Katrina and Caleb looked on with surprise at Alton's playful levity.
The four of them sat in the main dining room of the hotel chatting about their day. Due to the presence of other vampires in the area, both Katrina and Alton spoke of the conference in general terms, pointedly withholding any critical mention of their concerns moving forward. Instead, most of the conversation gravita
ted around Dori's and Caleb's assessment of the scenic mountainous area.
When Caleb mentioned looking forward to seeing the nearby town of Podjelje with Katrina that evening, she looked back at him with hesitation, knowing full well that he was about to be disappointed.
"Actually, my love, Alton needs my help preparing tomorrow's agenda," she carefully explained.
His face fell. "But I thought -"
"I must apologize to you both. My fault entirely, actually," Alton diplomatically interjected. "But all's not lost. Dori, perhaps you and Caleb could go to town together this evening. I'd hate for you to miss it on our account. "
Dori's eyes dashed to Alton, but quickly rested on Caleb. "It's true that I'd hate to miss going to town. Won't you accompany me, Caleb?"
Caleb was disappointed in the news, but he agreed, "Sure. That'd be fine, of course. "
Katrina extended her hand to gently grasp one of Caleb's and supportively squeezed it. "Don't worry, we'll arrange time together. "
The group fell silent for a time as Dori and Caleb ate their dinner and Alton and Katrina sipped at glasses of warm blood. Caleb's eyes fell upon the blood-filled crystal ware and a question resurfaced from earlier in the day.
"One of the things I noticed today while looking around was that most of the staff seemed on edge," he said.
"Surely being surrounded by vampires has to unnerve many of them," Alton suggested. "For some, it may challenge religious beliefs or other preconceptions of reality. "
"Yeah, that occurred to me," Caleb agreed. "But what keeps people from exploiting those revelations?"
Katrina's eyes tentatively met Alton's as she started to speak, but the stately vampire interjected on her behalf, "Caleb, a reflection on the rules that you agreed to with Katrina should plainly suggest that every human employed here risks their lives to be anything other than dutifully silent. "
"But it's still a significant risk for years to come even after the conference has long ended," Caleb pointed out. "How can you monitor so many people for the remainder of their lives, no less?"
"Some of the staff are volunteers who are already employed by a number of vampires in attendance here," Alton explained. "Much the same way that many of the vampire security guards are in the regular employ of a number of us. And as for the few humans not already contracted by a vampire, they're being handsomely compensated for their discretion. "
"Yet threatened, as well," Caleb suggested.
"Cautioned, my love," Katrina pointedly corrected. "Not threatened. "
He accepted the admonishment and politely amended, "Of course, a poor choice of words on my part. "
However, in his own mind he still felt that "threatened" was more accurate. While he didn't want his mate or the other vampires he cared about to be threatened by exposure at the hands of a careless person, he also didn't like the idea of people being ruled by heavy-handed fear.
"Which is why a conference, or summit if you will, of this nature has never been attempted before," Alton said. "This could be viewed as a risky venture as much as an opportunity. The mere congregation of vampires in such a small area at one time is unprecedented, particularly when mixed with the number of humans present. Still, it was hoped that the presence of human companions might ease the tensions of the human staff members. Thus far, I've been quite happy with the results. "
"It explains the large contingent of security guards, as well," Caleb said.
"The human guards are more numerous during the day simply because vampires are more vulnerable and have to be relegated to finite locations," Alton said.
"Are you aware of any perceived threats?" Dori asked with a note of concern.
Alton lightly patted her hand. "Of course not, my dear. Merely a precaution. "
The group fell silent again as Dori and Caleb finished eating while the vampires nursed their drinks. Following the meal, Alton signaled to their waiter, and a bottle of wine and crystal glasses appeared at their tableside. As the waiter departed, and to all but Alton's surprise, Paige suddenly appeared at the tableside wearing both her security blazer and a curious expression.
"Am I too late?" she asked.
"Right on time," Alton answered as he served a glass of wine to each of them and raised his glass in toast.
"Though you've each known me to be an intensely private person, you're among my dearest friends. It's in that spirit that I offer a toast," he quietly announced. "To Dori, for gracing me with her presence in my life, honoring me with her love, and agreeing to be my mate. "
"Congratulations to both of you," Katrina offered. "May you be very happy together. " Of the group, she was the least surprised, given that Alton had alluded to a companion the previous fall during their tracking of Chimalma.
"Here, here," Caleb added.
"So, you've finally taken the plunge, old man," Paige teased, eliciting a groan from Alton while Dori giggled.
"I'm equally honored, dearest, as well as indescribably happy," Dori demurred as she gazed upon Alton with adoration, at which each person sipped from their glass.
Paige pulled up a spare chair from a nearby table while Dori warmly repeated how she had met Alton. Though Caleb had already heard the story from her earlier in the day, he appreciated the charming tone that Dori used to deliver it.
Katrina held Caleb's hand in her own while listening to the recounting, and she thoughtfully beheld him as she recalled their own courtship. However, unlike their story, Alton and Dori seemed to have shared a more methodical and graceful courtship. She was very happy for her friend and hoped that they would have a long, happy relationship together, though she fleetingly wondered if Dori would be joining the ranks of vampires at some future point. Likely, her former mentor had already weighed such prospects well before declaring Dori his mate.
One thing about Alton, he's thorough, she credited.
As Dori finished her brief story, Paige imperiously arched one eyebrow and asked, "And why are we just now hearing about Dori?"
"I'm not one to kiss and tell," Alton slyly replied.
"Rather, you're just not one to tell, period," Paige remarked before sipping at her wine.
"Alton's merely a very private person while he deliberates," Dori diplomatically observed. "I respect that, actually. "
"As you can see, Dori understands me all too well," Alton said with a gracious nod.
A few minutes passed in idle conversation until Paige upended her glass, sat it on the table, and announced, "Well, sorry, but I have to run. The major wants me to personally review the perimeter of the conference grounds and then check in with each of our second shift guards before our evening briefing. "
"He's sure keeping you busy," Caleb observed.
"It seems the major's big on delegation," Paige mumbled.
She patted Alton and Katrina on the shoulder, congratulated Dori and gave Caleb a quick peck on the cheek before departing the dining room in a virtual blur.
"I like her," Dori said.
"Paige is a hoot," Caleb happily agreed.
"She's quite a character," Katrina dryly observed while possessively watching her mate.
Caleb innocently shrugged, sensing that the peck to his cheek had caught Katrina's attention and not in a positive way.
"Well, I regret that Katrina and I must leave you two for the time being," Alton announced. "But I hope you'll both enjoy the sites in Podjelje. " He glanced at his watch and added, "I believe the shuttle is leaving in the next twenty minutes or so. "
After hasty goodbyes, Katrina and Alton retreated to Alton's room to prepare the next day's agenda, while Caleb and Dori proceeded to the front of the hotel. As they boarded the small tour bus along with a group of fellow hotel guests, Aiden Henderson and his vampire companion, Talise, waved to them. Caleb and Dori took the empty seat in front of them and turned to visit. The journey to town was less than scenic for the human passengers as the bus traversed the
often darkened mountain road, but the vampires occasionally commented on the splendid surroundings, including the heights of surrounding peaks.
The small town of Podjelje was a short distance from the conference site, but it seemed farther in the shroud of darkness outside. However, the town itself was well-lit by antique street lamps and the inviting luminance cast through the windows of small, street-side shops that appeared to have extended hours for the visitors. The bus pulled to the side of the town's central street, and everyone disembarked. The driver announced that two hours remained before their planned return to the hotel, leaving ample time to browse.
Caleb noticed that a couple of the vampire security guards were among the group, while the streets were patrolled by no fewer than three other local police officers. He momentarily wondered if the townspeople knew the true nature of some of the hotel guests. Surely, it must have been unusual for a busload of tourists to show up in town well past sunset.
"A penny for your thoughts, Caleb?" Dori asked while they walked behind Talise and Aiden, who held hands in front of them.
"Aw, nothing really," he evasively replied. "Just my usual musings. "
She glanced sidelong at him and observed, "I was wondering what we must seem like to the town. Most of these shops must have been asked to stay open well past their typical closing times. "
He sharply looked at her. "Are you a mind-reader or something?"
She shrugged. "Me? Hardly. Just considering all of the angles. "
"You're Alton's dream-mate for sure," he quipped.
She giggled as they walked the quaint town street together. They perused the various shops for over an hour, which included a bookstore, two clothing boutiques, drugstore, hobby shop, antiques dealer, and local glassware vendor. Finally, they entered a candy shop where they purchased some chocolates to share.
They continued their walk, nearly reaching the opposite end of town, when Caleb pointed to a souvenir shop set off to one side of the street next to where the forest skirted the town limits. The four of them entered the moderately-sized building, noticing that the shop also served as an import service and distributor of fine silks.
Caleb picked out a small handful of novelties and was perusing the shelves near a small window when something caught his eye. The window looked out towards the nearby forest and a small brick building that appeared to be an automobile repair shop. A small exterior light attached to the building illuminated the area enough to see four men standing next to a nondescript delivery van. Three of the men he didn't recognize, though by the uniform one appeared to be a local police official. However, he clearly recognized the fourth person as Baldar Dubravko.
One of the men accompanied the police official into the van, and the vehicle proceeded further into the forest via a worn dirt road. The other man and Dubravko watched the van depart before turning and entering the small building.
I wonder what they're up to?
"Caleb, everything okay?" Dori asked as she touched his arm to get his attention.
He jumped slightly with surprise and snapped, "Be-jeezus!"
He quickly tried to collect his wits while running his hand through his hair. "Sorry. You startled me. "
She looked at him with some concern and gazed out the window with a curious expression.
"What did you see out there?" she whispered.
He frowned at her sudden change in behavior from innocently curious to suspicious and whispered, "Baldar Dubravko, a police officer, and two other men. Not really sure what they were doing. "
Dori took note of her surroundings before offering, "Let's talk about it outside. "
He made his way to the front of the store where he paid for his novelties, and they walked out onto the sidewalk. Aiden whistled from down the street and waved at them as he and Talise entered another shop.
Dori turned to stroll casually alongside Caleb and asked, "Now tell me. "
He recounted the strange scene and waited as she quietly mulled over his revelations.
Finally, she offered, "Maybe it's nothing, just Dubravko conferring with associates. "
"You don't really think that, do you?"
"Not really. Alton suspected that Dubravko might be up to something. It's doubtful that he supports the goal of the summit, despite his financial backing for renovating and upgrading the hotel's accommodations. "
"What then?" he pressed, his mind racing with a host of possibilities all at once.
"I don't know," she replied.
"We could follow the van," he suggested.
She bit her lower lip and studied her watch.
"Not a bad idea, really. "
Someone cleared their throat nearby, and they turned to see a local police officer standing not far from them. He wasn't the one whom Caleb had seen from the shop window, but rather one who had been patrolling the streets when they first arrived.
"You are guests from the hotel?" the officer asked with a strong Slovene accent.
"Yes, we're just shopping," Dori replied, turning on her charm.
"The shuttle, it leaves very soon," the man observed. "You should return to the loading area," he politely suggested, though with an insistent tone.
"Yes, of course," she replied. "Thank you. "
The officer watched them walk back towards the bus. Barely twenty minutes later, the bus departed for the hotel, and Caleb and Dori were still ignorant regarding the nature of Dubravko's activities.
After returning to the hotel, they bid goodnight to Talise and Aiden and looked at each other with tentative expressions as they stood near a small fountain not far from the bus.
"So, how do you feel about a daytime stroll around town tomorrow?" Caleb asked.
Dori adopted a shrewd expression. "Why Caleb, I thought you'd never ask. "
Caleb took a shower and wondered when Katrina would finish working with Alton. Somehow, he suspected it would be a while, so he passed the time in the suite sitting on the couch reading some materials that he had packed in his luggage for the trip.
He pulled out a recent issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education, which was renowned for its insight into relevant issues of the day affecting colleges and universities. The latest issue discussed the financial challenges of colleges during the recent nationwide economic downturn. One article decried the folly of releasing non-tenured faculty members from their contracts in order to save money.
It was the last thing he remembered reading before falling asleep.
Katrina entered the hotel suite and was surprised to find the lights on, as it was well after three in the morning. She quickly spied Caleb leaning back against the couch with his head cocked to one side, his mouth slightly ajar, and a newspaper absently strewn across his lap.
The scene fondly reminded her of when she used to watch him through his apartment window from the vantage point of his fire escape.
I was quite the stalker back then, she quipped while kneeling at his side.
She lightly ran her fingertips across his cheek, concerned by how uncomfortable he appeared in his sprawled position.
He stirred slightly, and she kissed Caleb on the forehead. He smiled, suddenly realizing that she was next to him, and began to stretch.
She helped him from the couch, and he half-staggered into the bedroom. She held the covers aside as he slipped beneath the sheets, and she kissed him on the lips.
"I'll just take a shower and be right back," she promised, and then shed her clothes.
Caleb intended to remain awake for her, but quickly succumbed to sleep once more.
Katrina finished her shower and shook her head at his slumbering form as she exited the bathroom. Instead, she appreciated the time lying in bed next to him for a few hours while contemplating the early events of the conference.
It appeared that she would have less time to spend with Caleb than she had originally planned, and she hoped he would understand.
Then again, it wasn't as if she were particularly happy about the development herself, and she silently cursed Alton for getting her involved at such key levels.
Yet she was beginning to share Alton's concern for the implications of an unsuccessful end to the summit and felt compelled to support him.
Time passed quickly as she lay beside him, appreciating his rhythmic heartbeat and falling into a sort of meditative trance. She even dozed for an hour or so, though she was actually still days from needing any sleep.
When she finally stirred and noted the clock on the nightstand, it was time for her to rise again. She gently slipped from beneath the sheets, dressed, applied some makeup, and lightly kissed him on the forehead. After placing a note on his nightstand, she quietly departed the room.
Upon waking, Caleb immediately realized that Katrina was no longer next to him, and he groaned.
Gone already? Dammit, he silently cursed, wishing that he could be a vampire and not waste valuable time sleeping.
He never even had a chance to discuss what he saw in town the night before.
Maybe Dori told Alton, he hoped.
He rubbed his eyes and reached over to read the note on his nightstand.
Dearest Caleb,
Sorry I was so late last night, my love. It will probably be another long day in the conference, so try to do some sightseeing on your own. I'll see you tonight, and I'll make it up to you somehow. (Use your imagination!)
Love,
Kat
He placed the note back on his nightstand.
This trip is going to end up as a scrapbook full of scenic pictures and notes from Kat, he sardonically determined.
He dressed, shaved, and took the time to check his email on his notebook. After checking his personal messages, he logged into his college account.
Unfortunately, the article he had read the night before about college budgets' being tightened was prescient. Robert Fulton Community College was expecting harsh budget reductions as they looked to the new fiscal year, slated to begin July 1. Among the list of reductions in travel expenses and supply purchases was a possibility of staff reductions. Apparently, more information would be forthcoming in the coming week once the legislature had allocated funds to state agencies, including funding to higher education via the State Regent's Office.
He shook his head, hoping it wouldn't come to that.
He shut down his notebook and called Dori before proceeding to the hotel restaurant for a late breakfast. She was already seated at a table in the corner when he arrived.
"Good morning," she happily greeted as he sat down.
"Ready for a little sleuthing?" he asked in a mock-conspiratorial tone.
Her eyes darted around her. "You mean, sightseeing, don't you?"
He tried not to look too obvious as his eyes swept the room. Other than some other human companions eating or visiting, he didn't spot anybody within hearing range and certainly no vampires.
"Um, yeah, sightseeing," he agreed with a quirky expression.
She's awfully serious about this spy stuff, he observed.
A pensive, yet polite, waitress took their orders, and they passed the time casually visiting while waiting for their food. No mention was made about their suspicions from the previous evening or about their plans for the day other than going into town to peruse the shops at length.
Dori said that the shuttle was leaving for town within the hour. They quickly finished eating and made their way outdoors to sit and wait until the shuttle was available for boarding.
It was a beautiful day, and the scenery was breathtaking. For the first time since his arrival, Caleb looked forward to enjoying the sights unimpeded by darkness. He only wished that he could share his experiences with Katrina, and he momentarily lamented her shared chairmanship responsibilities with Alton.
Upon arriving in town, there was far more activity than the prior evening. Citizens went about their business shopping or doing errands, while tourists blended into the scene before them. Caleb noted that, unlike the previous night, there were three human hotel guards, though they sported only small side arms. No local police were evident, save for an empty patrol car parked across the street from where their shuttle was parked.
Rather than go to the souvenir shop where Caleb had seen Baldar Dubravko, Dori led him to a nearby crafts shop where they browsed at length. And while he pretended to be interested, he couldn't have been more bored in his life.
However, she seemed to gauge his interest level, because she smiled to herself as she perused the crafts. In the end, she purchased a couple of knick-knacks before they finally left.
"Oh please, do try a little harder, won't you?" she sincerely pleaded. "Patience, Caleb. "
The two walked down the street in the direction of the souvenir shop, but halted some distance away from the establishment as Dori abruptly sat on a park bench beneath an awning. She removed a small ceramic figurine of an angel from her bag and examined it.
Caleb joined her. "Why did we stop?"
"So that we have a few moments to survey the area. Did you happen to look for surveillance cameras last night? I know I didn't," she whispered even while studying the delicate figurine.
She absently observed the area, much like a tourist taking in the sights.
"You have practice at this, don't you?" he suspiciously asked.
He felt there was more to the young woman than met the eye, and his curiosity was piqued.
"Me? I'm just a curious tourist passing the time? Aren't you?" she meaningfully countered. "There's an older video camera in front of that jewelry store across the street, but I suspect it's just watching the shop's entrance," she said.
They sat for a few minutes, and Caleb took the time subtly to mimic her method of casually surveying the area. It helped for him to repeat the mantra "curious tourist" in his head.
"Video camera in front of the repair shop next to the souvenir place, but I think it can only view the front of the building and maybe part of the area in front of the shop," he said while gazing at the figurine in her hand.
"Very good, Caleb," she complimented. "You catch on quickly. "
"Should we try an alleyway or something?" he suggested.
Her piercing violet eyes playfully pored over him as she replied, "Alton said you were a clever young man who thought quickly on his feet. Now, I can see why. "
He blushed slightly as she placed the figurine in her sack and rose from the bench. He followed, and they proceeded further up the street, turning down an empty alleyway between two shops that appeared to be used as a delivery lane to the rear of the buildings.
As they made their way out of the alleyway, they noticed an older man unloading small boxes from the back of a delivery van, though he ignored them as he traversed between the van and the interior of his small shop.
Dori signaled Caleb to follow her and led the way towards the empty field of grass stretching away from the back of the buildings towards a nearby forest.
Upon reaching the tree line behind the souvenir shop, they proceeded through the trees and made their way to the dirt path that Caleb had seen the night before.
"The van went that way," he said while pointing in a direction that led deeper into the forest.
They proceeded along the dirt road at a leisurely pace so as not to draw undue attention if they were observed.
It was a beautiful day, and Caleb appreciated the fresh smell of the forest coupled with the sounds of chirping birds. They walked for about twenty minutes, and he noticed that the mountain overlooking the town loomed before them as they drew closer.
Finally, the road ended at a small clearing next to a rocky outcropping on a sheered-off portion of the mountainside. Butted against the rock facing stood a single-story, windowless shed constructed of stone and sporting a tin roof. A single wooden-planked door was secured with a newer-looking padlock.
; Caleb surveyed the area and focused on Dori with a perplexed expression. "What's a storage building doing out in the middle of nowhere?"
She shrugged. "Maybe for storing mining equipment?"
"What mine?" he countered as he walked further into the clearing.
While rocks had cascaded down the mountain to the base, there were no visible mine entrances to be seen. He scanned the area again, impacted by how the surrounding forest loomed around them like a natural wall. It gave the small clearing a claustrophobic feel.
"This is weird," he absently muttered.
Dori moved to the wooden door and tested the lock, which was secure. "We need to take a peek inside here," she insisted.
"Gee, and I left my lock picks back at the hotel," he chided.
She offered him a withering look and walked over to the nearby rocks and stones that had piled up in places. After hefting a couple of larger stones, she selected one to carry back to the wooden door where he was standing.
"Here's your lock pick," she quipped while dropping it into his hands. "Start hammering, if you please. "
He nearly dropped the large stone and rolled his eyes. He used a series of rapid bashing motions, which included missing the lock on two occasions, only to hear her giggle as she covered her mouth with one hand. But after a few minutes, his ministrations were rewarded when the metal eyelet gave way around the lock, resulting in the still-closed lock's dropping to the ground. He cast the stone to the ground and gaped at the still-secured device with frustration.
"That's fine, Caleb," she reassuringly offered. "You nevertheless dislodged the lock. "
"Hey, it's one of those heavy-duty ones," he pointed out somewhat defensively. "I mean, they're supposed to be able to take a bullet and stay locked, you know. "
"I'm sure," she temporized while pulling the door open.
The hinges groaned as the door swung open to reveal that the interior was lined with a solid sheet of metal, making the door quite formidable.
"That's a deceptive-looking door," he noted.
The interior of the ten-foot-square shed consisted of old wooden benches to each side, strewn with a variety of old gardening and mining tools. The entire back wall was comprised of wood and bore only a large pegboard with poorly-maintained hand tools hanging from utility hooks.
"This is strange," she said.
She quickly felt underneath the benches and visually inspected the surfaces. Taking her lead, Caleb entered to assist.
After a few minutes of fruitless searching, Dori pursed her lips with a contemplative expression. "What are we missing here?" she asked.
He looked up and noticed a string hanging from a light fixture. He pulled it, and three bulbs illuminated the room through a single, dingy glass globe.
"Doesn't it strike you as strange that an old storage building next to a mountain has functioning electricity?"
Her eyes widened and she rushed outside to look around the perimeter of the building.
"But there's no electrical poles or exposed cabling anywhere," she observed.
Caleb stood in the open doorway with narrowed-eyes. "That means it's buried underground. But then, where's the fuse box?"
She slipped past him and shifted around old crates. Meanwhile, he shuffled the items on the pegboard to see what he might have missed the first time. While clanging tools against one another he heard Dori yell, "Hey!"
He turned to see a mustached man wearing a local police uniform gripping Dori's upper arm as he yanked her outside. His other hand held a metal baton, which swung downwards onto Dori's thigh as she tried to wrestle from his grip. She yelped as her leg collapsed, causing her to slip to the ground.
"Asshole!" Caleb barked while lurching at the man.
As he cleared the doorway, another baton came out of nowhere, catching him in the lower back. He grimaced as pain shot through his midsection and had no time to react as another swing caught him across the upper shoulder. He managed to grasp the baton firmly before it could be retrieved for another swing, but he felt an immediate shocking pulse of painful electricity course through him. The crackling sound filled his ears as his body failed to respond, instead falling to the ground as he gasped for breath.
"You are under arrest for trespassing," the man hovering above him announced in a thick Slovene accent.
Caleb felt the bite of metal as his wrists were cuffed behind his back, and he heard Dori protest, "You have no reason to attack us like this!"
"Shut up!" the other officer barked at her as handcuffs were applied to her wrists.
"What were you two doing here?" demanded the officer who was hauling Caleb to his feet.
"Identify yourself," Dori insisted as she eyed the lieutenant's insignia on his collar. "For a superior officer, you're acting like a common brute. "
"I am asking the questions," the man replied. "What are you doing here? I won't ask again. "
"You're making a bad mista -" Caleb began, but was cut short when the lieutenant slammed his fist into his temple, causing him to stagger to the ground again.
"Stop assaulting him!" Dori demanded. "We're just tourists!"
"Bah!" the officer securing Dori countered.
"Take her to the car," the lieutenant ordered. "I'll follow with him. "
Caleb tried and failed to regain his footing as Dori was led away. She kept glancing back over her shoulder at him, but the officer repeatedly pushed her before him as they walked.
A moment later, Caleb was once again distracted as the lieutenant leered at him and balled up his fists. The first blows to the side of his head and midsection hurt the worst. After that, he felt only dull throbbing and retained awareness of little else.