God Touched - 01 (32 page)

“What about Chris’s reproductive system?” Lydia asked.

“Hey, why do you want to know about that?” I asked, feeling oddly uncomfortable.

“Hus
h Junior, and let the grownups
talk.” Lydia said.

Dr. Singh smiled at this exchange and then spoke.  “That part seems to be more like the LV virus.  Weres reproduce normally, in addition to infecting others.  Although, their fertility rates are very, very low.  That is somewhat in keeping with other apex predators.  Too many bears, wolves and tigers means no more prey animals, so they produce few young.” he said.

“Lydia, why is that important?” I pressed.

She gave a little shrug.  “Just curious.”

Yeah right!  Like I believe that.  I asked my own question.

“Doc, is Tanya like other vampires and won’t have kids, or is she different?” I glanced at her but she was looking mildly curious.

“We aren’t certain Chris.  She seems to have viable eggs, but doesn’t have a human female’s menstrual cycle.  Of course, she would never be fertile with another vampire – “ she hissed in anger and he continued hurriedly “ – not that she will ever have another mate but you.  But whether the two of you could have children is a very large unknown.”

Whoa!  Kids?  Me and Tanya?  Now there was a picture.

Assistant creepy came into the room with a pizza box that she unceremoniously handed to me and left.  It gave me a chance to think about the implications of all Dr. Singh had told me while feeding my empty stomach. But before I could get very far, we all heard the outer door to the office stairs open and footsteps head down to our level.  Tanya and Lydia looked at each other after a moment and in unison said. “Senka!”   Sure enough, the blonde elder came through the doorway looking like a young upscale soccer mom in designer jeans and an Oxford sweatshirt, her hair in a
ponytail
.  I straighten up and tried to wipe the pizza grease off my face in an attempt to look a little better, but then I realized I was standing barefoot, wearing just scrub pants in a doctor’s office.  It was sorta pointless.  She gave us all a quick perusal before concentrating her formidable gaze on me. 

“How is our patient, Dr. Singh?” she asked, frowning slightly.

I didn’t care to have any
more vampire Elders frowning at me tonight.  Fedor had been quite enough, thank you.

“He’s in good shape, and I think the effects of the demon blood are almost worn off.” Dr. Singh said.

“I disagree, at least about the demon blood.  His aura is very dark, much darker than the other day.”

“I don’t feel a hundred percent yet, so maybe a few hours of sleep will help.” I suggested, hoping to move her attention away from myself. 

She looked at me for a few moments longer, than changed topics.

“I’ve been in touch with Fedor’s lieutenants in Europe, informing them of recent events.  I’ll be leaving in the next few hours to head over and clean house if necessary.  Galina will be going with me to help review Fedor’s finances and business arraignments.  So Tanya, you’re in charge of the NY coven for the near future.  It’ll be good practice for you.  Lydia will, of course, be your right arm.  You will need a new head of security.  Any ideas?”

Tanya looked at Lydia for a moment, than answered.  “Arkady would be my first choice.  He worked with Vadim for years and I’m confident of his loyalty.”

“Excellent choice.  I took the liberty of bringing him along thinking you might choose him.”  She looked back at the doorway and raised her voice several levels.  “Arkady?”

Immediately, the upper door opened and heavy footsteps pounded down the stairs.  The massive Russian vampire appeared in the doorway.  “Lady, you called?”

“Congratulations, Arkady, you are Tatiana’s new head of security.  Any suggestions for her?”

“Thank you.” He said, then turned and spoke to Tanya.  “Young Queen, I would suggest using Nika to check the entire household for anyone who feels the same as Fedor did.”

Lydia was nodding agreement as Tanya responded. “Good idea.  Please see to it.  Anything else?”

He paused for a moment, seeming a bit unsure, but then went ahead and spoke again.

“I think most of the New York coven will fall in line easy enough, but I would suggest having
him
with you at your first formal gathering.” He nodded in my direction, and everyone turned to look in my direction.  I froze in place, a slice of pizza mere inches from my open mouth.

Lydia asked the obvious question.  “Why?”

“Because rumors were already spreading about what happened to the vampire waiter that tried to stop him the other night.  By now they will have linked him to the Fedor’s spectacular death.  Having a
sputnik jizni
who is responsible at some level for the absolute destruction of Europe’s Elder can only help.  They will fear him as much as you.  Fear is good.”

Senka turned to Tanya.  “His points are all solid.  Good first decision.”  She looked at her watch.

“Okay, by now several shipping containers of remains are sinking to
the
ocean floor.  My jet will be ready shortly, so I will say goodbye for now.  Tanya and Lydia, I will expect reports nightly.  Christian, I trust I will see you when I return.  Doctor, please walk me out.  Goodbye.” 

With that she left, Dr. Singh following her out.  I put on the scrub shirt and polished off the last piece of pizza, while Tanya spoke to Arkady.  “Please have Nika start checking the Darkkin who remain at the house. We will be along after we drop Chris back at his own place, much as I would rather he came home with me,” she said.

Chapter 21

As we pulled up in front of my building I notice a particular truck outside and sat up. 

“Uh oh!”

Immediately, both vampires were thoroughly alarmed. 

“What’s wrong?” Tanya asked, looking in all directions for the threat.

I groaned.  “That’s Gramps’ truck!  Shit!  He didn’t like my email responses and I didn’t call him back in time.  I don’t believe it!  He friggin’ drove all the way down here!” I said.

“Where is he now?” Lydia asked after exchanging a glance with Tanya.

“Most likely in my apartment.  He knows where I hide the spare key.”

I sat still for moment wondering if I could just go back to Tanya’s house and try avoid the verbal beat down that was in my immediate future.  Naw, the old man would probably start calling the Sixty-eighth precinct in another hour or two if I didn’t appear.  I sighed in resignation.

  “All right.  I guess I better face the music.  I call you later Tanya.”

“Do you want us to go with you?” Lydia asked, puzzled by my response to my grandfather’s surprise visit.

“No!” I said, thoroughly alarmed at that idea.  “No, he might shoot someone.  I need to talk to him, prepare him, before he meets the two of you.  Maybe later tonight.  I’ll call.  Oh, Happy Birthday, Tanya.” I said.  Tanya’s frown turned into a smile and she gave me a big kiss, before letting me out of the car.

     It was still very dark at four seventeen in the morning that November first.  Dark and cold, although I wasn't feeling it even though I was only wearing a thin set of hospital scrubs.  Dr. Singh had told me my
new
body temperature would most likely settle in at around one hundred and two degrees Fahrenheit, about the same as most Weres.  Actually, about the same as most canines, period. 

I looked at the green Ford F One Fifty extended cab as I walked past it to the buildings front door.  That truck or one much like it, had been part of my life for as long as I could remember.  From twelve and a half feet away (I can't tell you how I knew that measurement, but would bet money it was right) I could feel the heat of the engine block on my skin. Gramps hadn't been here too awful long yet.  Good.

The television was on in my apartment, the volume low and I could smell fresh brewed coffee as I walked down the hallway to my door.  Bracing myself mentally, I turned the key in the lock and cautiously pushed the door open.  The man sitting in my leather chair looked a good ten years younger than his seventy-four years, his features clear in the pool of light from my chair side reading light, the comforting aroma of
Captain Black
pipe tobacco wafting from his position.  The rest of the apartment was dark, except for the little light over the stove in the galley.  At five foot eleven, my grandfather is an inch taller than I am, a fact he loves to remind me about.  His weight has stayed a remarkably even one hundred and ninety pounds for most of  the last four decades, a result of a naturally sound metabolism and a long life of hard physical labor.  Dressed in Carhart pants, timberland work boots, and a green John Deere sweatshirt, his flint gray eyes studied me carefully from under a thick head of gray hair.   His left hand was wrapped around a mug of coffee (which would be black, no doubt), while his right hand rested on the Smith and Wesson short barreled forty-four magnum that was occupying the armrest.  The gun had been my father's, the practical purchase of a thoughtful man, who had enjoyed introducing his young family to the Adirondack wilderness.  Gramps and I both had the gun registered on our pistol permits, neither of which were valid within the boundaries of New York City.  He looked me over from head to toe (the latter he could see, because I was barefoot). 

“Musta been some party you been at?”  he remarked.  My best guess pegged him at equal parts annoyed and concerned. 

“Gramps, you have absolutely no idea,” I said without a hint of levity in my voice.  He frowned, picking up on my lack of humor.  Gramps always said he went on full alert whenever I stopped being a wiseass, which is pretty much my normal state of being.  He shifted slightly in the chair and asked. “You okay, boy?”

“Yes Sir.  But I am glad to see you.  I tried to call you back in a timely manner, but events have conspired against me for the whole last week.”

“You look leaner, ...and  darker, like you been tannin' or some such?” he remarked.

“Yeah, well that's part of the story.  Let me get a mug of that java  I smell and I'll fill you in.  Take about an hour or more, so if you're tired, we can do it later?” I offered.

“Nope, I'm fine.  You look all done in, though.” He said.

“I'll survive for a bit more, but I will have some of those Boston crème donuts that you brought.”

He frowned again, no doubt because the pastry box wasn't visible from where I was standing and ordinary people wouldn't have smelled them like I had.  Moving into the tiny kitchenette,
I found the Dunkin' Donuts box
on the stove top and after filling a mug with black coffee, I took the whole thing back into the room, seating myself on the futon.

“You move different.” he accused.  “More controlled.  Kinda like one of those trained dancers on
So You Think You Can Dance.
  Only not so girly.”

That took me by surprise, because I hadn't been aware of it.  I knew I was more coordinated and much faster, but the grace or control of center he was referring to had escaped my attention.

Not knowing what else to do, I told the story chronologically, the same way I've been telling it in these pages.  It took a solid fifty minutes to get through all the particulars.  He listened carefully, without asking questions or interrupting, the same way he had always listened to my troubles and adventures.  I finished and then went into the kitchen to get more coffee, knowing he would think it through a bit before speaking.  Settling back onto my futon, I noted sadly that the donuts were long gone, five for me, one for him.  He scratched the stubble on his chin, looked at me with a glint in his eye and finally spoke.  “A girlfriend?  You have a girlfriend?”

“Yes Sir.  You'll meet her later if you want to.  I'll warn you, though, she might be a bit nervous.”

He started at that.  “You said she was the future queen of the vampires.” I nodded.

“And she'll be nervous about meeting
me?”
  He asked.

“Yeah, pretty much.  You’re my only family and she has heard all a
bout you.  Your opinion of her
counts pretty heavy.”

“Will I meet this Lydia too?” He asked.

I
laughed,
my first since I got in.  “Yeah, that's pretty much a given.  And she most likely
won't
be nervous.  She's a piece of work.  You'll probably like her, although she seems to find great joy in making me nuts.”

He grunted as he thought about meeting a pair of
real vampire girls. 

“You don't seem very surprised.” I noted.

“I always told you these things...er..beings were real.  I saw enough of the world during my time with the Marines to know the truth of that.  Saw a vampire in Korea, once.   From a distance.  Never wanted to see one again.  Scary looking thing.  Your girl is she....well...does she look normal?”

I laughed again.  “Not even close to normal.  You know those
Victoria Secret
catalogs that occasionally show up in the mail and never seem to get thrown out?”  He nodded, his eyes widening.