Wulf's Redemption (Borne Vampires Book 3) (5 page)

Considering the deadly situation they were in, Alex
found he was happier than he had been in years. Kai was in his arms. That was
all that mattered to him at the moment. He laid his cheek against her soft hair
and ‘willed’ the dirt to cover them.

Chapter Four

January 22, 1819, Magdeburg

Town Hall was crammed past capacity. More people waited
outside in hopes of participating in the emergency meeting called by Magistrate
John Breber and the Lord Mayor Heinrich von Blumenthal.

In a mere span of nine days, eight infants and toddlers
had been brazenly stolen from the safety of their homes and there was no trace
of their whereabouts. Fear stretched taunt in the humans, it slithered and tormented
them. It struck the strong hearts of the stoutest of men and created an
undercurrent of reckless need to kill. The anxious and terrified women gathered
in small groups, consoling the brokenhearted mothers who held their remaining
children or blankets and toys of the missing. Alex felt sympathy for the
mortals and was equally lost on how to aid them in their time of need. What was
taking the children was no mere man and his suspicions led him to think it were
something of supernatural nature, leaving him dreadful something worse than a
vampire hunted the innocent of Magdeburg.

Shouts erupted and Alex watched Breber enter the
hall. He stepped aside and Lisle walked past him, her head held high. Blumenthal
joined them and led the way through the crowd, working their way to the stage, where
they could conduct tonight’s meeting. He almost smiled as Breber cast a
long-suffering eye at his wife, who shook off his hand and left him to join the
women.

Poor Breber.

Lisle was rumored to have refused to speak to him,
condemning him as did the townsfolk for his inability to capture the fiend
taking the children. Best known for her tantrums than a soothing disposition,
he was surprised to witness her administering to the mothers of the lost
children. They encircled her as she spoke quietly to them. Studying his former
lover, Alex swore she appeared even lovelier than the first day they met. Her
silvery-blonde hair shimmered, her skin creamy and flawless. Despite dressed in
a black taffeta gown, adorned with same-hued lace, Lisle radiated youth and
beauty.

Glancing at Aldric, he grew concerned. His brother’s
gaze never once left Lisle, seeming as entranced as the women around her. Lisle
looked in his and his brother’s direction and gave them a wicked little smile,
a secretive one that gave him the willies.

What the devil was the woman up to?

A banging of a mallet against wood rose above the
chatter. Breber had taken the pulpit, while a nervous Blumenthal stood to his
right. Banging the mallet several times, the Magistrate tried to gain the
silence he needed to be heard over.

“Good people … please …. SILENCE,” he roared.

One could hear a pin drop the immediate result his
command produced. Not even a whimper escaped the children who were brought to
the meeting, their parents not trusting anyone to watch them while they were
absent.

Grimmer than he had ever seen the Magistrate, the
man held the edges of the podium with his big hands, his brown eyes intent upon
the expectant faces staring at him. “Good people of Magdeburg, I and the Lord
Mayor have assembled you to address the slew of rumors and misconceptions concerning
who may be responsible for kidnapping our children. Gossip has spread the
gypsies are involved. A witch, perhaps, is taking the children. I have
personally examined each crime scene, including the recent kidnapping and I am
confident in informing you that the monster we hunt is not a man.”

Uproar issued at his words. One of the men
shouted, “If not a man responsible, what then?”

Breber said firmly, “A wolf. An extremely large
one and is far more intelligent than the average beast we have ever encountered.”

A collective gasp responded to his words. Some of
the women fainted, their fears their children were dead had been confirmed.

Another man asked, “How came you your conclusion
that a wolf is responsible?”

“Upon the freshest scene, I found a single set of
tracks leading into the house of the latest victim and out of it. They were of
a wolf, and
the
largest set of prints
I’ve witnessed in my life. To counter this threat, I have assembled men to
patrol the boundary of the River Elbe and our beloved city, bade them keep the pyres
burning high throughout the night, to hold back the wolf packs.”

Breber shifted his feet. “Furthermore, I implore
you to keep foodstuff locked in your houses, do not allow your pets or children
to be left unattended.” He searched the faces of the people as he spoke,
finally settling on Alex, as if he were addressing him directly, making him uneasy.
“Keep your weapons handy at all times. Do not allow the beast to penetrate your
homes nor your minds. It thrives on fear, basks in making us tremble at its
stealth and ease to steal our children. I bid you return to your houses post
haste, do not delay. Keep fires burning in every fireplace, lock windows and
doors, ensure the beast has no possible way to enter your homes. Do not open
your home to anyone until full light has touched the sky. I will find and kill
this beast and see its head piked in town square. I swear this!”

There were no cheers, only sadness as those who
had lost their children nodded their acceptance at his oath. Subdued by the
news a wolf was to blame for their woes, the townspeople filed out of the hall.
Alex watched as the humans left, the idea a wolf could enter homes without rousing
the patrons and grab the children without causing them to scream in terror
seemed impossible, except if the one entering the house was a vampyre. To his
knowledge the only ones in Magdeburg were him and his family.

Had another taken residence? How could a stranger
arrive and not be subject of interrogation? No, whoever was the villain he was
one amongst the folk, hidden in plain sight. But who?

Nudging his arm,
Aldric whispered, “Alex, I need to feed. Let us walk on to
White’s and find us a girl or two.”

Hunger clenched his gut, reminding him that he had
not fed in several days. Although Ulrich had commanded him and Aldric to feed
on the servants and not those in town for fear of arousing suspicion, he could
not, would not, feed on them for he considered them family, not cattle.

“White’s
it is.” They were almost to the doors when a soft, lily-white hand pressed to
his chest, halting him. Recognizing it, he bit back the groan he nearly issued.

Lisle
Breber stepped before him and smiled tightly at him and his brother. “My lords,
you honor us with your presence. Will you aid my husband in his patrols
assigned?”

“Actually,
we were on our way to White’s,” he replied as he attempted to sidestep her. She
refused to let him leave.

Her
eyes hardened. “You leave to play cards while children are stolen right from
under their parents’ noses? How typical of the aristocrat. Are you so intent on
your own pleasures, you cannot help your fellow man search for their missing
children?”

“We
have business to conduct. Not that it is any of
your
business,” he reminded her in a firm tone.

Furious,
she made to retort back when Breber placed his large hands on her narrow
shoulders. Her demeanor quickly became polite and meek, not fooling him or
Breber, who warily watched Lisle.

“My
lords, forgive my wife. She is passionate about finding the children. We will
not detain you further.”

Executing
a short bow, Alex offered, “My brother and I extend our service to you in
searching for the villain, Magistrate Breber, once our business is concluded.”

“Your
offer is much appreciated, my lord. Be safe.” Breber inclined his head and
gently pushed his wife to walk on.

Aldric
commented dryly, “It appears we are on patrol tonight.”

“We
feed first.”

They exited the building and strode down the
snow-covered sidewalk. Lit gas lampposts cast a warm, golden blanket along the white
street. The night illuminated by hundreds of pyres ablaze around the city
perimeter, holding the threatening shadows at bay. Breber was transforming
Magdeburg into an impenetrable fortress. Taking shape was a barricade extending
from the bridge to his right and to the left, beyond city square. It was a sound
idea to keep the wolves out, even if he was beginning to suspect it was not a
normal wolf hunting the children.

Their destination was not far from Town Hall. Accompanied
by a large group of noblemen, who had attended the meeting, too, it was obvious
they were headed to White’s as he and Aldric were. The young men shouted
boisterously at how they would hunt the wolf responsible for carrying away the
precious youth and bring its carcass back to city square and display it for all
to view. A loud howl broke over the city, piercing in its loneliness. He and Aldric
halted in their tracks, as did the humans. The tense silence was broken by
another sorrowful howl. In its wake, a pack of wolves answered with such
fierceness that it could only be deemed a challenge to the solitary wolf.

The humans exchanged nervous glances. Taking
advantage of their hesitation, he nudged Aldric to hurry to White’s Game and
Sport House. White’s provided entertainment in the form of ladies of the
evening, cards, dice, all the pleasures men of nobility could afford. He had
only one requirement tonight: blood.

Entering the establishment, they were greeted by a
tall beauty with her long, midnight-black hair pulled back and fastened with
yellow rhinestone flowers. A red silk gown of Grecian design enhanced her
delightful curves and olive complexion. Dark eyes, shrewd and intense, improved
with her recognition of them. Her tension eased, and Madame Bree welcomed them
with a smile warming rather than polite accord. As they doffed their hats and
coats, handing them to a servant dressed in white attire, Madame Bree hailed
them.

“Lord Alex, Lord Aldric, welcome back to White’s.
Will it be cards or women to start off your evening?” Her heavily-accented
voice smoldered with raw sexuality.

Alex accepted her outstretched hand and pressed a lingering
kiss upon her dainty knuckles. “Ah, Madame Bree, we are in serious need of companionship.
Living so far outside Magdeburg, it leaves my brother and I with a tormenting
loneliness. Can
you
be of assistance
to us?”

“My lord,” Madame Bree chuckled as she caressed
his chest, smoothing the fine material of his black waistcoat, “you and your
brother are well sought after by the fair maidens of Magdeburg. Why purchase
female companionship when the pretty virgins would give you ease for free?”

Grinning wickedly, Alex leaned down to say in her
ear, “Virgins require effort to coax them to perform enchanting tricks only an experienced
touch of a well-schooled mistress can provide me.”

A
full, throaty laugh escaped the woman as she playfully shoved him toward the
gaming hall. “Go forth, my lords, and find your comfort in the arms of my skilled
ladies of the night. Enjoy yourselves.”

Tipping
his head in a respectful salute, Alex smiled, loving the playful banter he and
the regal Madame Bree shared. Dark blue runners graced the dark wood floors,
enhancing the pale gold and cream walls. Cigar smoke hung in lazy clouds above
the round, beige-colored felt tables. Nervous laughter broke the somber
atmosphere. Women dressed in negligees of the sheerest material, silk stockings,
their high-heeled slippers muted by the woven thread of carpeting beneath the
gaming tables and lounges. Seizing the first lady to approach him, he escorted
the pleased prostitute upstairs, leaving Aldric to find his own meal.

“Where’s
your room, my sweet?”

“Room
Four, my lord,” she replied breathlessly.

Entering
her room, he gazed into her eyes, fixing his ‘will’ onto her. He instructed
quietly, “Lock the door, please.”

The
girl eagerly obeyed him. “May I pour you a drink, my lord?”

“No,
I require nothing except you.” Alex motioned to her. “Come here. I need you.”

She
eagerly went into his arms. Kissing her, he drew back her dark hair and viewed her
neck, the vein pulsing in tempting rhythm. His fangs lengthened in anticipation
of feeding on her. Sinking his teeth deep into her soft skin, she jerked in
response to the pain of his invasion, soon calming as he held her tenderly in
his arms as he drank. An ear focused on her beating heart, Alex withdrew his
teeth when the fragile organ fluttered in protest. Licking his tongue over the
wound, he blurred the bite mark from others witnessing his feeding on her. It
would remain hidden until she healed. The girl put her hand on her forehead,
dizzy. She nearly collapsed, saved as he lifted her into his arms and laid her
on the pale pink lace and silk-covered bed.

“My
dear, I will see you are well paid for servicing me,” Alex whispered to her. Gazing
into her half-shut eyes, he ordered, “You will only remember us having a lovely
time. You became exhausted by our play. Sleep, lovely girl. Sleep.” Assured she
would obey him, he tossed several bills on her dresser and left the chamber.

He
sought out the woman who supervised the prostitutes for Madame Bree and handed
her several notes.
“Here, it’s for the girl in Room Four. She pleased me
well, and I wish her to have the night off.” Alex bore his ‘will’ into the
plump, scantily dressed woman with flaming-red hair.

“As you wish, my lord. We are here to please,” she
said with a knowing smile.

“We, poor, wayward men, appreciate your talents in
pleasing us, madam.” Alex gave her rounded bottom an affectionate slap and won
a giggle out of her. “Here’s extra for you, love.” Tossing another bill to her,
he sauntered off, seeking his brother.