after his fight.
Neither one said a word, and just stood their and smoked their cigarettes. It would be dawn soon and with it the promise of a new day. Andrew hoped it would be a good one. So did Nick.
Chapter 10
The bright sun rose from the eastern sky dressed in hues of red, orange and yellow. Its light and warmth filtered into the room. Andrew woke, stretching every aching bone in his body. He got out of bed and strode into the bathroom. Andrew stopped to look; his upper torso was covered with bruises. He continued on and got in the shower. The soothing waters felt good. Andrew thought about his upcoming meeting today with author, Kara Sadler. He had done some further research on her last night. Andrew also had read her book Vampire Chronicles. She had gone into seclusion once her book was published, and that was one year ago. Andrew also found out that Kara lived in German castle that was transported stone by stone to somewhere in the outskirts of Woodstock. He further read that the castle was impenetrable and had the most up-to-date security systems in place. The question foremost on Andrew’s mind was, why did she need it? What was she afraid of?
Andrew finished his shower and grabbed a towel after turning the water off. He left and went back into the room. Andrew let the towel slip to the floor and strode to the closet. He picked out his favorite navy blue suit and laid it on the bed. Andrew opened the package of a brand new, white, dress shirt. Once dressed, Andrew put on a pair of black dress shoes. The room phone rang. Andrew picked it up and asked who it was. They told him that there was a car waiting for him in front of the hotel. Andrew thanked the desk clerk and hung up the phone. Once he was off the phone, Andrew left to go and meet his ride.
When Andrew exited the hotel, there was a black limo with tinted windows waiting for him. As Andrew approached the car, the rear door opened unassisted. As soon as he was seated, the door closed. The driver of the limo took off effortlessly into the early morning traffic.
The interior of the limo was decorated with black leather and silver fixtures. There was a bottle of champagne chilling and a single glass. There was a note attached to the bottle. Andrew removed the note and read ‘With my compliments, Kara’. Andrew tossed the note aside and opened the bottle. He poured himself a glass. Andrew knew it was early, but why should he waste a perfectly good bottle of champagne. Besides, he did not want to disappoint his hostess. Andrew downed the glass of champagne. Suddenly, he felt ill and things began to look blurry. He tossed aside the glass. It was laced with some kind of drug. Before Andrew could call out, he passed out cold.
Things still were a bit blurry when Andrew opened his eyes. He closed them again, trying to focus and to shake off the affects of the drug. When Andrew opened his eyes again, the room was much clearer now.
The room looked like something directly out of Camelot. Intricate tapestries were draped on each of the four walls, the furniture dark and heavy. A fire was roaring in the large stone hearth. And there amongst it all was Kara Sadler, seated in a high back leather and wood chair. She did not look the same as the photo on the book jacket. Gone was the golden hair and bright blue eyes; instead her eyes were dark brown and hair the color of night with streaks of red. Andrew further remembered Kara had worn a more conservative taupe skirt with white blouse and matching jacket in that photo. All of that had given way to a wardrobe of black.
Kara smiled at Andrew through sumptuous blood red colored lips, and twirled her hair with a slender finger and nail polish of the same color. A white blouse seductively opened revealed Kara’s ample bosom. A black leather vest was loosely tied; knee high leather boots and pants completed the look. Andrew knew he was in trouble.
“How are you?” Kara’s voice sang to him.
“I’m fine,” Andrew replied, sharply. “What was in the champagne?”
“I had to keep the location of my home a secret,” Kara touched her bottom lip.
“Why?” Andrew asked curiously.
“Since my book came out, well as you might imagine there are people who are quite upset with me,” Kara gestured with her hands. “I’ve made some powerful enemies.”
“It that the reason for all of the security?” Andrew asked the obvious.
“Yes,” Kara gazed at Andrew intently.
“In your book you talked about several things.” Andrew changed the subject. “One of them was about the Ravenclaw coven, specifically the Higgins. The other was the Knights of VanHelsing.” Andrew went further. “Isn’t it a strange coincidence that the Higgins family was murdered and that the Knights of VanHelsing are after you?”
“What makes you say that?” Kara scoffed with the wave of her slender hand.
“In your book you talked about the centuries old feud between those practicing vampirism and the Knights of VanHelsing,” Andrew explained. He looked at her intensely, “You interviewed the Higgins family along with the others from the clan. You even interviewed Ravenclaw himself. In the book you describe him as a ‘brooding monster ready to feed his blood lust at any moment’, is that not true?”
“It is true,” Kara answered coolly. “I even took part of a blood ritual. It was the only way I could truly understand why they do it.”
“You also interviewed one of the Knights of VanHelsing, right?” Andrew continued.
“Yes,” Kara voice turned somber, almost to a whisper. Andrew wondered if it were out of respect or out of fear. “I interviewed the one called Moon Blade. She explained to me, the history of the Knights of VanHelsing. The order had its origins in the Ore Mountains of Germany. There is a secluded castle nestled high in the mountains called Gothica. All of the Knights trained there and then assigned specific areas in a country.”
“And there are only three, no more, or less,” Andrew added.
“How do you know that?” Kara was shocked.
“I fought two of them in a Chicago park last night,” Andrew answered. “One of them recited the mantra for to me.”
“And you survived?” Kara was still shocked.
“I survived.” Andrew forced a grin.
Kara stood up. She glided towards him as if skating on ice. Kara stretched out her hand towards Andrew. “Please come with me.” Kara said. Andrew took her hand and stood up from the chair. Kara’s hand felt warm, almost hot. She smiled, and revealed teeth white as snow. Andrew saw her fangs.
Kara led Andrew out of the great room and into an open air foyer. From there, they took one of the two stair cases which led to the upper rooms. All the while they walked; Kara kept a firm, but gentle hold of Andrew’s hand. Soon she stopped them in front of a heavy-looking wooden door. Kara turned the ornate door knob and pushed the door open. The large bedroom was decorated similarly to the rest of the furnishings in the castle.
Kara continued on with Andrew in tow towards the bed. Andrew saw some men’s clothing. Black pants and a white shirt, which were laid out on top of the bed. At the foot of the bed was a pair of black boots.
“I want you to dress for dinner,” was all Kara said. She left Andrew standing there and walked out of the room, and closed the door behind her. Andrew heard the sound of a key turning. He was locked in!
“Watch it,” Andrew scolded and also reminded himself. “She’s up to something.”
Andrew walked over to the dark maroon, heavily curtained, window. He drew aside the curtain. The window in the room faced toward the west. The sun was low in the sky, painted with shades of fire. It would be dark soon. Andrew wondered what the night had in store for him. He let the curtain loose and it swooned back in place. Andrew reached inside his suit coat and took out his phone. He was surprised that Kara let him keep it. Andrew slid the cover open and was immediately disappointed. There was no signal. He walked around the room, but it did not change. Andrew put the phone away, he would try later. Andrew returned to the bed and removed his clothing. He put on the clothing that Kara had laid out for him. He finished it off with the boots. Andrew walked over to the full length mirror. He looked like someone out of a vampire movie. Andrew left and sat down in the leather chair by the bed. The only thing he could do was to wait for Kara to release him from the room. He was not happy about it.
The banquet room was aglow with candle-filled crystal chandeliers. The long, wooden table was dressed like a bride on her wedding day with white linen and accents of silver. White roses, seemingly dipped in the color of blood, were arranged in several bouquets on the table. Place setting of fine china and crystal long-stemmed wine glasses were set across from each other at one end of the table of an intimate dinner for two.
Andrew entered the banquet room and took his place at the table. Kara had not arrived as of yet. An older
