Cogs in Time Anthology (The Steamworks Series) (22 page)

“Where to, Miss West?”

“Back to the street where we found the boy.” Astrid felt a peaceful contentment as she uttered the words. Her heart pounded with anticipation.

“I hope he hasn’t wandered far off,” she said, trying to ignore her inner fear for his safety.

William—a middle-aged man with graying hair, twinkling eyes, and a moustache that made him look like a shrunken walrus—had often witnessed Astrid’s concern for the poor and underclass. He knew her heart wanted to help the boy, yet he also knew Lord West would be furiously irked if she brought the ragamuffin child home with her.

They reached the area where Timothy was last seen, the streets had become quiet and empty, and all were strangely deserted. The boy had vanished as well. Constance alighted from her carriage and desperately looked for him along his usual streets, but to no avail.

“He’s gone home. Or he’s gone inside for supper, Lady Astrid.” William’s voice was falsely reassuring. He knew the boy had no real home to go to. “I’m sure he’s safe,” he tried again, but Astrid’s senses narrowed into the alleys around her, trying to spot the slightest trace of the young boy.

Down an alleyway on the east side of the road, the chirpy laugh of a woman resounded from behind the row of houses. Astrid ran down the narrow alley as the sharp smell of urine filled her nostrils. She squinted into the dark passage as William huffed behind her, jogging to keep up.

Astrid made her way over the puddles; garbage lined the alley and wild cats hissed from the tiny window frames. The alley ended in a makeshift courtyard, dark but still semi-lit from the setting sun. Five women sat together on benches, all dressed in gaudily bright, but well-worn frocks, with bright lipstick and rouge painting their weathered faces. They laughed in unison at a joke, sitting with their knees apart and dresses hiked over their ankles. 

Prostitutes
 
she realized as she caught her breath.

In the midst of the colorful women sat Timothy, a large smile on his face, his dirty hands wrapped around a bowl of soup. A strong whiff of perfume assaulted Astrid as the wind changed direction. Her eyes watered from the sour stench.

“Timothy?” Astrid couldn’t hide the frantic concern in her voice. Her gaze softened as she found him.

Timothy’s eyes flew towards the alley, surprised to see Lady Astrid deep in the bowels of the slums. As Astrid ran towards him, all five women protectively rose up, their smiles erased with a grim look of distrust taking its place. However, as she moved closer to them, their faces relaxed, for Astrid’s acts of charity were not unknown to them.

“Lady Astrid, what brings you here tonight, to our part of the world?” asked the youngest girl.

“Good evening, ladies,” said Astrid, taken aback that they knew her name. “Timothy…I was…worried for him.”

Astrid moved closer and could see the women’s faces as clearly as they could see hers. She realized she had seen most of them before on the streets looking for work.

“Timothy is safe with us, Lady Astrid.” The largest lady spoke as she placed her arms protectively around Timmy’s shoulders. “You have nothing to worry about with him. We all take good care of him. He has us all. Every one of us claims him as our own.”

“I’m so sorry about Margaret.” Astrid knew the last woman that had been killed associated with the women. As the words escaped her mouth, a veil of gloom descended upon the women. An eerie silence filled the courtyard.

Finally, one of the older women spoke. “Margaret’s death was merciless. The Society had better reign in its rogue vampire. Or we will.” The woman’s eyes quivered with wet tears of anger.

Astrid looked into the eyes of all five women. Hard eyes. Pained eyes. A rage brewed behind them, ignited by the atrocities committed against their friend. Astrid knew these were not idle threats, and the woman meant every word she uttered. It would not be long before the women of the East End took matters into their own hands.

Astrid nodded empathetically. In the strange blue glow of the darkening courtyard, she found herself drawn into an unspoken pact with the women. She felt their loss and craved justice for them. A kinship filled the spaces between them.

“Would you like to come with me, Timothy?” she asked without thinking. Before she finished her sentence, she knew what he wanted. For as she spoke, his hand crept slowly up to that of the older woman next to him until the woman’s liver spotted hand securely enveloped his.

As he shook his head, a young girl sitting on the bench answered for him. “He’ll be fine here with us. Don’t you worry. We look after our own here.”

***

Luca had grown into a strapping young vampire, aloof and independent, a true member of his clan. After the birth of Draegan, he had never seen his mother again, but had participated in the upbringing of his young brother. Draegan was very unlike him. Luca was respectful and thoughtful, while Draegan was rebellious and aggressive. Worse, Draegan hated the weak and simpering human race.

Luca read the contents of the letter he’d just received and wondered how he possibly shared a mother with Draegan. They had been brought up in exactly the same manner and both received the teachings of the Society. Both took the Vow of Peace.

Luca viewed the Society as a Church-like entity. He also believed vampires were super human, and as such, had responsibilities towards the less fortunate human race. For Draegan, the reverence towards the Society was misplaced. He believed the power of the vampires should eliminate the weaker race and expunge them. Draegan believed the Vow of Peace weakened the vampires to a subservient role, unworthy of their genetically enhanced greatness.

In the letter Luca held from his brother, Draegan hinted of the killings.

Humans are stupid and weak! They don’t deserve to share our world any longer. We are creatures, superior in mind and body, capable of erasing the little minded humans—gnats in our god-like society. And it’s fun, brother. A good hunt keeps the senses keen.

Luca mouthed the words drafted by his brother’s hand. A knot rose in his chest as the words spoke of Draegan’s tyrannical desires. Closing his eyes, he began to hum in a low tone. He could see his brother pen the letter, blood fresh on his mouth. Luca could feel the euphoria of his brother as he wiped his face, licking his fingers. 

Oh my God! What has Draegan done?
Luca flew from the room, the letter fluttered behind him in his right hand as he ran to Mordecai’s office.

Mordecai was lost in thought when Luca entered, unannounced, and threw the letter on his desk.

“Read it.” Luca’s blue eyes blazed with anger.

Mordecai placed his hand atop the black-penned missive. Without reading the words, he felt the aura of the letter. He had known both Luca and Draegan from their entry into the world. A vision began to form. A young boy’s memory slid from the paper and took shape as Mordecai closed his eyes.

Mordecai then saw the face behind the robes.

*** 

Luca reached London’s East End only to hear the sounds of sobbing nearby. Slowly, he inched towards the sound, hiding in the shadows of the streetlights. A group of women sat huddled together in a courtyard, past a narrow alley, with a little boy. His sharp sight could distinguish, through the darkness, the slightest deviations in colors and shades. He saw gaudy clothes, torn and dirty, worn by heavily painted women.

Soon the women were laughing, wiping the tears of relief from their eyes as the young boy sat with his soup. Luca stood transfixed by their sudden change in mood as he heard a carriage in the street behind him.

Luca heard footsteps crashing through the damp alley. He closed his eyes and began a low hum. He concentrated on each molecule of his body, changing his molecular frequency and wavelength to become invisible to the human eye. He stood there as part of the darkness, waiting for the footsteps to emerge.

A beautiful young woman, in green, cut through the darkness. Luca gasped at her elegant beauty. Her face glowed, and she exuded a strange and serene calmness. The only sign of anxiety were her eyes. She seemed to search for something specific from the group as she walked closer. Her eyes probed the darkness in desperation. Finally, they rested on the young boy surrounded by the painted ladies. A look of relief washed over her—relief so strong he felt it in his own chest.

He watched the strange women as they welcomed the beautiful creature into their fold. Luca soon felt the defiance and pain of the group. He felt a sense of oneness and partnership fill the courtyard. A magnetic force and strength emanated from the young woman in green. Her force was growing stronger.

The angry voices of the women carried to him. “Margaret’s death was merciless. The Society had better reign in its rogue member. Or we will.”

Luca stood in awe as they vowed to find the murderer of their friend. He saw the woman from the carriage nod, vowing her support.

A warm sensation filled his chest as the woman in green turned to him. He found his ally.

Chapter Four

The Black Seam

London 1860

Astrid felt the stranger. She looked over her shoulder as she walked along the exquisitely manicured gardens of her family’s estate. She didn’t spot anyone, but she was certain of someone or something’s presence. As she strolled back to the west wing, she detected an imperceptible rustling of robes behind her. She stopped, calmly turning, fully prepared for whatever the sight might be.

As she slowly turned, she felt a breeze against her cheek. She still saw nothing, but the rustling moved. As she turned her head, she gasped. A young male vampire stood at her side. His pale skin complemented his gray eyes, but what shocked her was his hair. Blonde. So blonde it was almost white. His membership in the Society was apparent by his black robes and large, silver and agate ring he wore on his left hand.

“I am sorry to interrupt your morning walk.” His voice was heavy and low.

Astrid’s skin rose along her back and neck.

“I am Luca. I belong to the Society. Are you the lady of the house?”

Astrid nodded. “This is my father’s house,” she stuttered, stunned by his sudden appearance.

“I believe the young boy you have spoken with has been describing the vampire killer to you. I think I know who he might be.”

Astrid emerged from her frightened haze as he spoke. Her thoughts raced.
This must be the vampire who intruded into Timothy’s memory and now stalking me. Danger! Say nothing! 
The instant attraction she had felt for him dropped into the ground and merged with the wet and cold earth beneath her feet.

“Are you planning to hurt him? I won’t let you!” She balled her tiny hands into fists and beat against his rock like chest.

“No, of course not. I have taken the Vow of Peace. I have no desire to harm humans, especially the little ones.”

“Well, one of you is harming humans. And it must stop! Who is this killer?” Her voice sounded doubtful as Luca’s face paled even further.

“I believe it could be…someone quite close to me,” he whispered. “It may be my brother.”

“Are you quite sure?” She stepped back to study the handsome stranger in front of her. “You must stop him immediately! His crimes will destroy the peace! Your brother is a murderer!”

“He hinted of his hatred in a letter he wrote to me. I felt his crimes leap from the page. The heat of his bloodlust and sadism erupted with each curl of his script.”

“Are you certain it was penned in your brother’s hand?”

“Yes, I am a prophetic vampire and a member of The High Table. My powers are clear and proven to be without flaw. I need your help, and the help of your women friends from the East End.”

Astrid looked into his face, alarmed at first, wondering how he knew about her association with the women from the courtyard.

He smiled down at her. “I was there yesterday to investigate. You forget, I can read your mind. I heard your conversation.”

Astrid felt a tight knot in her chest. “There is nothing more for me to tell you then, is there? You seem to have been following me around and reading me long enough to know everything, yes?” She felt her voice tighten and the pitch rise. She felt out of control and bewildered. She was washed in a rush of emotions, suddenly unstable, no longer tethered to her normally controlled self. She had always been able to deftly gauge her emotional reaction to every situation and keep impulsivity at bay. However, the male vampire, Luca, kept her on alert.

“Oh, no! Please don’t misinterpret my intention. I was only following you because I needed to know the truth. I needed evidence. I need an ally. I apologize if you feel your privacy has been violated.” Luca sounded honest and sincere. His eyes were filled with the pain of knowing he had caused her grief.

Astrid felt herself soften, but could not understand the effect Luca had upon her.
 
Is this part of his telepathic manipulation?
 She shrugged off her bewilderment and focused on the immediate problem.

“How do you think I can help you?” she found herself asking.

“I want to trap Draegan. Then, perhaps, I can rehabilitate him.” Luca moved closer to her, his voice barely over a whisper.