I waited at the entrance of the old factory, just as I had done with Daniel last time, but this trip was a pleasure cruise. The same scruffy old man answered the door, a big almost completely toothless grin on his face.
"Is Mikhail in?" I asked sweetly.
The old man bowed low and stepped aside. "In his office as always, Miss."
"Thank you." I nodded before making my way across the factory floor and to the meat locker in the back.
I pushed the stone on the back wall and waited for the door to open as the sounds of smooth jazz floated to my ears. I stepped inside to see Mikhail, reclined slightly in his chair. His eyes were blissfully closed, and his fingers were tapping on the rim of his glass in time with the bass line. A smile slowly crept across his lips as he kept that same position.
"What a pleasant surprise, Printsessa." He greeted me, his hand gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.
"If this is a bad time, I can come back." I suddenly found myself nervous in his presence.
"No such thing." He chuckled. "I was just...reminiscing." He finally sat up and faced me, but his eyes held a sadness in them. "I listen to this record every year on this day. It was her favorite."
"Flora." I nodded knowingly.
"Flora." He answered back. "Today would've been her birthday."
Mikhail stared into his glass, his smile slowly beginning to fall. I almost thought I saw red tears swimming in his eyes, but he recovered so quickly, I felt like I was imagining it.
"Forgive me, Printsessa." He chuckled, waving off the moment. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, hmm?"
"Oh." I said, suddenly remembering myself. "I wanted to know if you could keep a lookout for a vampire. Goes by the name of Ana. A little shorter than me, bit of a toothpick, brown hair and green eyes."
"What's so special about this one?"
"I think she's the one that's been stepping on your toes, if you catch my meaning." On Mikhail's nod, I continued. "Of course, little Edie is now mixed up with her and got her head filled with some serious bullshit about how the feeding laws are supposed to go here."
"Did she-" Mikhail begin to venture.
"No, thankfully." I answered, already knowing what he was about to ask. "I stopped her before that happened."
"They are so lucky to have you, Printsessa." Mikhail smiled at me. "I will make sure we keep an eye out for her."
"Thank you, Mikhail." I smiled sincerely. Mikhail did that thing where he stared at me too long again, and I felt the goosebumps rising on my skin. "I-I think I should be going." I stammered as I quickly rose to my feet. I was almost to the exit when his voice stopped me dead in my tracks.
"Wait, Printsessa." He softly commanded.
I couldn't explain why, but I felt compelled to obey. My legs simply wouldn't work, no matter how hard I tried to will them forward. I was so distracted by this, that I didn't notice that Mikhail had made his way to me until I felt his breath on my neck.
"Why don't you stay and relax?" He suggested, his fingertips tracing their way down my arms and to my hands.
I immediately turned, my hands up ready to push him away. As soon as I looked into his eyes, my head began to swim, and my knees felt weak. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"Stay with me, Printsessa." He whispered, taking my face gently in his hands.
"B-b-but," I stammered, finally finding my voice, "Daniel-"
"He'll be a bit upset, yes," he began, nuzzling his nose with mine, "but he'll learn to accept it." He pulled back, looking into my eyes again. "The truth is, Printsessa, that I fell for you the moment you stepped through that door for the first time." Mikhail looked as if he had those red tears swimming in his eyes again. "You reminded me so much of her, it drove me mad. Don't you understand? I have to make you mine."
Mikhail lowered his head, bringing his lips closer to mine. I have no idea what made me snap out of his trance, but I thanked whatever it was as I found the strength to push him away.
"No!" I shouted. "This isn't right, and you know it!"
"You see? You're even able to resist me like she could." Mikhail smiled sadly at me. "Women and men alike would throw themselves at me constantly, but not her. That strength. One of the many things I miss."
"Look, I get that your heart is broken, but I'm not the one, Mikhail." I crossed my arms over myself protectively. "My heart belongs to Daniel and there is nothing you or anyone else can do to change that."
Mikhail was about to answer me, when he stopped short. Both of our noses raised to the air slightly, smelling the unmistakable scent of blood. It took me only a second to realize that this blood didn't come from just anyone. I bolted to the office entrance and opened the door. There stood Daniel, looking like he just came out of a battle with a lion. He limped towards me and I allowed him to lean on me as I led him to a chair. I saw Mikhail bolt toward a cabinet out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't pay too much attention.
"Daniel, what happened?" My wide eyes looked over all of the deep claw marks.
"It was Ana." He answered quietly. He shifted slightly and hissed in pain. "If you think I look bad, you should see her."
"Where is she?" Mikhail asked, bringing a blood bag to Daniel.
"No idea." He shook his head, tearing a small slit into the corner of the bag. "Gone, hopefully."
Mikhail simply nodded as Daniel drank ravenously from the bag, letting out small growls of hunger here and there. I kept an eye on his wounds, which started to patch themselves up fairly quick. After the bag was empty, I disposed of it in the trashcan, knowing Mikhail would use the trash to fuel the barrel fires. I ran back to Daniel's side, my hand gently caressing his face. He gave me a tired smile and kissed my palm, before leaning back in the chair with his eyes closed. I could feel eyes on me again and I looked up at Mikhail. I couldn't read the expression on his face, but at that moment, I didn't too much care to. I turned my gaze back to my love, my hand gently stroking his hair.
"Why didn't I know what was going on?" I gently chastised him.
"That would be my fault, darling." He smirked. "I was so worried about Edie, that I-" His eyes shot open and he shot up, wincing in pain. I held on to him, while he got his footing. "I-I left Edie. We have to go back to Hamilton!"
"You let Edie go by herself?" I did my best to mask my anger, but it was damn near impossible. "Daniel, how could you do that?"
"I wanted to give her a chance to prove she could be trusted!" Daniel shot back. "I wanted to prove that she's still my baby sister and everything I taught her isn't gone."
I looked at Daniel in disbelief. I knew he meant well, but how much could Edie be trusted now without someone to watch her? Did I think she was beyond redemption? Not in the slightest. But Daniel let his soft spot for his once fragile baby sister cloud his judgment.
"Mikhail, can Daniel rest here for a bit?"
"Of course." He answered plainly.
"No, Sylvie." Daniel shook his head, trying to pull away from me. "I can go get her."
"Baby, you can barely stand on your own!" I fussed, gently pushing him back in the seat. "She's pissed off at me, yeah, but it'll be fine. I think, in the case of this, she'll get over herself."
Daniel looked up at me, all kinds of flustered. After a few moments, he leaned back and nodded. I gave him a kiss on the forehead and dashed from the office.
It didn't take me long at all to reach Hamilton, which was the easy part. I stood at the end of the street and surveyed the scores upon scores of people. After what felt like an eternity, my eyes finally fell on Edie, who was strolling in my direction. She wore a smirk on her face until she saw me. Her smile dropped, and her eyes rolled.
This kid, I swear to G. I mentally fumed as I met her half way.
"I guess my fun's over." She sneered.
"We need to go home." I answered simply.
"Why? Am I in trouble again, Mommy?" She mocked.
"No, you smart mouthed little shit." I clapped back. "Your brother had a run in with your little friend Ana."
Edie's bravado was suddenly gone. "What do you mean? Is she okay?"
"She?" I echoed, doing nothing to hide my sheer disgust at this child. "Your brother got pretty fucked up, but he's fine. Thanks for asking!"
"Oh." She lowered her eyes, looking all the part of the child who was being scolded. "I-I... what I meant was-"
"Never mind, Edie." I sighed, my hand gripping my temples. "We just need to get home, okay?"
"I'm right behind you." She nodded, her whole attitude suddenly changing. What was with this girl lately?
I didn't say a word as I turned to cross the street. I was silently thankful that I walked instead of driving. Me having to be within arm's length of this girl right now would have most likely ended quite badly for her. Plus, I was more than sure Daniel wouldn't have taken too kindly to me ending the life of his precious baby sister.
'No, I don't think I'd like that too much.' His voice was groggy in my head.
'Then, I suggest you have a talk with her.' I answered, trying to couple my snappy answer with a warm and loving feeling.
'I'll do what I can, darling.'
'That's all I can ask, my love.' I smiled.