After my meeting with Viki where I got to describe in great detail what I was looking for and she promised to find me something, I gave Viktor a call, asking to meet up with him.
"Everything ok?" He asked, his voice sending vibrations through my body.
"As of right this second? Like this very second? Yup, everything is ok. I can make no promises for after."
He chuckled at my response and told me that he was currently at his condo and I was more than welcome to join him. Spending a night in that gorgeous room AND having the Van Helsing play bodyguard? I was definitely in.
Hanging up, I hopped in a cab, leaving my car at my old apartment, and made my way to Van Helsing. It was time to come clean about certain aspects of my life. I just didn't know how I was going to start the conversation.
After I was allowed in the building and the Knights guarding his condo nodded at me to let me know that it was okay for me to go in there, I let myself inside and closed the door behind me. "Hello?" I called out, expecting to see Viktor but was greeted with complete silence. With what I was supposed to talk about, the silence had me on edge.
"Hello!" I yelled louder, my voice echoing throughout the home.
"Here," came the gruff response of Van Helsing. I walked towards the voice, not expecting him to come out in just a towel around his waist. A smaller one was in his hand, drying his hair. I could feel my breathing stop and my heart skipped a beat. I don't think that I would be considered human if I didn't react to that look. And in this case, I was very much human. That eight-pack and Adonis belt drew my eyes and I could not look away to save my life.
"Sorry, needed a shower after dealing with all that crap at Jenny's house."
And there went my good mood. "Yeah, but we are not going to deal with that situation right now, there are a few…. Scratch that, one, thing much more important that we have to talk about," I said, completely forgetting about Jenny and all the other crap that happened this morning. I really needed this day to just end.
"Please, for the sake of my sanity, go get dressed and meet me in the living room. We need to talk," I said as I slowly backed away from him. I was trying to behave, I really was. But if he was just going to let me look, then wouldn't it be an insult to him if I didn't? And I really don't want to insult the Van Helsing… me being a monster and all.
Yes, I understand that that is a really flimsy excuse, but I was going with it.
In less than five minutes he was meeting me in the living room, a somewhat concerned look on his otherwise expressionless face. "You ok, pui mic?" He asked as he poured both of us a glass of plum brandy. I sniffed it and closed my eyes. The smell always reminded me of my dad.
"Yes and no," I replied in the most oh-so-helpful way that I could. "I am happy now that I have let my monster out, but that seems to have brought about a whole lot of complications," I started, taking a deep breath.
"Like the House Gypsy this morning," replied Viktor with a slight smile on his face. I glared at him, neither confirming nor denying anything.
"Like a lot of things," I snapped. "But at the same time, I have kicked a hornet's nest that I have tried to avoid for a few hundred years. That might bring some issues into New York and I wanted to make sure that you were, aware of it."
"You wanted me to be aware of it? Or the Van Helsing to be aware of it?" Asked Viktor, never taking his eyes off of me. I froze in response. I carefully studied the thoughts going through my head before answering that.
"Both, but for different reasons," was the conclusion that I had come to. "I am letting you know that if I disappear for a while, I will come back. It might take me a bit of time, but I will be back."
"And the Van Helsing?"
"Once word gets out that the last Tesalor has taken over her rightful place as Head of the House Gypsy, there is going to be an influx of hunters coming into New York, and most will not care about who they hurt or kill," I replied, thinking back to Salem. I wasn't there for the original witch trials, but I did manage to spark another one. Hundreds of women were killed at that time too, all with the excuse to find me.
"Do you know who is hunting you down, pui mic?" He asked looking deep into my eyes. He might not have said 'tell me', but I felt the pull nevertheless.
"Yes and no," I replied, once again being clear as mud. "There are a few different groups that dislike Gypsies as a whole, and my last name is etched in their brains as being the mother of all Gypsies. They are mostly human and while annoying, will give up after a while. It is the other group that I am more worried about."
"And what group is that, Little Cub?" He asked, his voice a low hum that called every aspect of me to him.
"It is called Red Moon Rising, cliché, I know, but they are a group of about 20 human fanatics, lead by a supernatural, that is determined to kill me. They should not come out of hiding for another two years, but if my name is being thrown around, they might show up sooner."
"And why would they be hunting you?"
I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his reaction to what I was about to say, "Sins of the past," was all I managed to say before my throat closed up.
"All of your pride is intact, pui mic, what sins could you possibly have?"
"The sin of living when it should have been someone else."
"And who is at the head of this group?"
"Pandora."