Chapter Five

Cassandra

Cass jogged most of the way home. When she arrived at her doorstep, she barged in and collapsed onto her knees, huffing and puffing. Once she could breathe again, she started tossing things into a duffel bag. She practically danced through the rooms, excitement, hope, and a thrill of fear drumming through her. It was the first time the numbness in her soul had relented in months. All of her suppressed emotions came back in a rush that gave her whiplash. She grabbed her keys off the table. She saw her book on the couch as she passed and twirled back around to snatch it.

Why am I smiling? Unable to fully shut down the little inquisitive voice that lived in her mind, she rolled her eyes. It was a good thing she lived alone because she was totally unhinged right now, nothing like the put-together lead scientist that she was.

They hadn’t broken ground on this project in a long time. The last breakthrough they’d had was at the very beginning, when an epidemiologist determined the pathogen and risk factors. Then everything stalled, silence in the news room but for the rising number of pets lost. There was no way to know if Qadaire was telling the truth, but his bizarre appearance reminded her that there were wonders out there. Things that defied logic, physics, and science itself. It gave her renewed hope that a solution was possible, and within reach.

That being said, she was anxious without Zero by her side. He was her tether, no matter how numb she was. She could turn off the feeling while at work because she had to, but now? She questioned her decision to leave him with the mysterious stranger, but she had to drown that thought out. He’d been too tired to make the return trip, and she couldn’t have carried him the whole way. That man had wings, though, so couldn’t he have flown them both? She got the distinct impression that he didn’t leave that place. She really couldn’t blame him.

Her heart cracked to think someone would be subjected to science so warped and cruel. She inferred by the way the crows acted toward him, how they seemed to know him, that he was friendly with them. Was he their leader?

With a bag packed, she tried again to reach Ali. Her best friend was the head of the department next to Cassandra’s. Ali had technically been her first love, but that was ages ago. Back when they were naive preteen lesbians who thought things were clear-cut. Some insight would’ve been nice, instead of living into her near-thirties before knowing what she knew about herself now. Puberty may’ve sucked less, but then again, it was notoriously a shit show.

No answer. She sent a text, then tried calling again.

“Hey, dude, I really need into the lab. I think I’m onto something. Please call me back!”

Cass really didn’t want to wait until morning. Zero was in an unknown place with a stranger. She slung the duffel bag over her shoulder and fumbled around for her keys. Maybe the janitor was still there, right? Doubtful. She had to try.

A couple of crows preened each other on the hood of her car.

“Hey, guys, get a room,” she teased. “’Cause this one is leaving. Meet you back at the mansion?”

She thought she was joking, but one of the crows let out a caw and they flew off in the direction of the haunted mansion. She watched them for a moment, then shook herself, blinking rapidly. How sure am I that I’m not asleep in the lab right now?

The doors to the lab were locked, as she’d expected. She banged on them every few minutes, calling Ali way too often. Her heart started to sink. She’d been gone fora couple hours now.

Just as she slunk back to the driver’s seat, dejected, her phone buzzed.

“Cass, what the fuck is going on? Are you okay?”

“Dude, can I swing by and grab your keys?”

“What? Is this about work? You’re freaking me out!” Ali’s sleepy voice sharpened.

“Yeah, it’s work. I’ll come grab them and you can go back to sleep. I’ll drop them off and leave through the window. Please!” The line went quiet. “Ali? Did you fall back asleep?”

They sighed. “No, I’m here. I’m assuming you’re already at the building?”

“Yeah, but I can be at your place in five.”

“I’ll meet you there. Don’t go anywhere.”

“Thank you, thank you!”

Cass hung up and paced back to the building. She flunked against the door, sliding down to the sidewalk. Ali loved Zero. There was no way they weren’t going to help, but Cass wasn’t sure how much info she should share. How crazy did it sound? Not to mention irresponsible. She hadn’t considered the possibility that Qadaire might’ve done that to himself during an illegal, unethical experiment that involved himself and the common crow. She preferred to give folks the benefit of the doubt, but she was starting to doubt herself.

Best she didn’t say anything. Ali was her best friend. They’d known each other for longer than anyone else in her life, but still. Ali might think she was letting her neuro-spiciness get the best of her again, and then they would be checking on her night and day. She could hear it now: have you eaten today? Have you taken a shower lately? Maybe it’s time to go to sleep, Cassiopeia.

A few minutes later, headlights shone around the corner. Ali’s rusted beater pulled in. They made enough money now that they could easily afford a newer, nicer vehicle, but Ali always did have a soft spot for fixer-uppers.

Cass bolted to their window. She could hardly tell they’d just woken up under the accusatory stare they gave from under worried brows.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Cass held out her hand. The freckles under their hazel eyes crinkled as they narrowed into slits. Cass curled her fingers in and out in a universal gimme gesture.

“Should I be worried about you?”

“I’m fine.” Cass leaned forward and placed a steady hand on Ali’s shoulder. “I’m not going nuts. I just think I found something.”

“All right. Good.” They didn’t sound convinced but still passed the key card through the window. “I’ll be right here.”

Cass forced herself to walk through the door calmly. The moment she was out of Ali’s view, she hurried her pace to the lab. She ticked off the items on her mental checklist as she gathered them into her remote working travel case. When she had everything she could think of, she scanned the lab again. She grabbed an extra notepad, just in case.

Winking at the crow on the windowsill, she hustled back down the stairs and walked to the lot.

“Thanks again,” she said as she passed Ali their key card back.

“Of course. Hey.” Ali gave her a serious look. “You’re gonna find it, okay? You’re going to save them.”

“I know. I just hope I’m fast enough.”

They parted ways. Cass wasn’t sure she’d be able to find the castle again, especially with whatever bizarre science-defying technology was used to keep it hidden. She could’ve sworn the house hadn’t been there, then it suddenly was. Any concerns she had died when the two lovebird crows danced through the sky together and cawed demandingly.

“So I guess I’m following birds around now.”

This was totally insane. Right? Whatever. She shifted gears and sped out of Papiliona, past her house, and down the dirt road.

*** *** ***

Her slick palm slipped on her briefcase handle. She reached to thunk the door knocker, but the door squeaked open. Qadaire stood to the side. He wore pants that hugged his legs, where she noticed uneven bumps and tufts of feathers peeking through the fabric. She nearly swallowed her tongue trying to hold back her questions.

“I have all I need.” She paused in the doorway. “And a whole lot of questions.”

“Naturally.” His voice sounded as stiff as his rigid body.

“First of all, you said Qadaire for short. Short for what?”

“I am Qadaire Von Keichemer, Lord of Viatra Zen, Slayer of Dracula VI, Inherited Vampire King of Viatra.”

“Erm, okay. Lots to unpack there. Let’s start with, vampire? Are all vampires like this?” She waved in his general direction, hoping it wasn’t rude to ask. She wasn’t convinced he really was a vampire, but learning what he thought of himself would be useful. “Also, slayer of whom? Do you eat humans, and should I be concerned? Will it affect our—”

Fanged incisors glinted behind a curled lip. Fangs! Had he sharpened those himself? Curiosity and trepidation snapped her mouth shut.

He growled, an ominous sound that clashed with the downy feathers around his jaw. “I understand you’re a scientist, Dr. Billing, but control yourself.”

Cass took a few steps into the red-drenched room and let the door creak shut behind her. She was coming on too strong, one of her specialties. Regardless, she needed answers, and she wouldn’t stop until she felt safe.

“All right, that’s fair. But answer my questions first.”

He stood completely still, his sneer as frosty as a glacier. It was eerie, but she stood her ground, despite the fearful tremble in her spine.

“I don’t eat anyone. I drink blood. You and Zero are safe. Not all vampires suffer my deformities. They were a parting gift from the despot, Dracula the Sixth, a mad king who would have wiped out the humans in this hemisphere by 1692. The court that once lived here all fled or died with their master that day.” His head twitched to the side in a distinctly bird-like motion. “Anything else?”

“How did you decide to target me? Have you been stalking me?” Memories of pop culture surfaced. “Can you control me? Are you using magic on me right now?”

He recoiled. In a blink, he was an ice sculpture again, all emotion chipped away. “I’ve done my research. I’ve kept an eye on your progress, but never outside of the professional context. I have not glamored you.” His charcoal eyes narrowed. “If that’s satisfactory, let us move on. Your pup has awaited your return.”

She glanced around the expansive living-slash-entry room. All of the glaringly red furniture made her skin crawl. Even the wallpaper was red, with black accents. What an angry color to live with everywhere.

“Where is he?”

“Resting in the main lab. This way.”

He reached for her luggage, which she readily gave up. Even with taloned feet, her host seemed to glide over the floor. She could literally see him taking steps, but his body held so still. Scratches pockmarked any stretch of floor that wasn’t carpet. Cass shivered and shrugged further into her shawl.

He led her down a long, dark hallway. They passed corridors that stretched to either side, so far that they ended in pitch-blackness. The place was huge. They walked until little signs of life started to crop up. Glinting gold and silver trinkets lined shelves of fancy glass-paned display cases. Wall-mounted shelves were filled with cultured collections, from beautiful blown glass to wooden carvings.

At the end of the hallway was a grand lab. It was so large, so wide, the painted ceiling so incredibly high, that she wondered what it’d been originally. The intricately carved columns and stained glass windows—in shades of red, unsurprisingly—suggested it was used to host guests.

“Is this a repurposed ballroom?”

“Yes.”

“Did you do this?”

“Yes.”

“Wow.” What would one person do in a home so large? “Do all the rooms have purpose?”

“Little else than the south wing is still functional. Basic living quarters, a library, two small labs, and this main one.”

She would’ve asked more, but a lump on one of the rolling chairs moved restlessly.

“Hey, buddy.” Cass scratched Zero’s ears vigorously. He leaned back on the chair, exposing a sliver of his belly. She happily obliged. “How are you feeling, goofball?”

Zero responded with a few fond licks of her chin. Her heart warmed, glad to see him so comfortable. That was weird, right? Their host was a feathery, four-armed, self-proclaimed vampire, yet here was Zero, lounging and wagging his tail.

When Cass turned back to Qadaire, she considered him with more intent. Who was he, really? Although she typically didn’t find people attractive until after she’d caught feelings, she could see the beauty in him. He was like one of Michelangelo’s marble men, chiseled from his feather-framed forehead to the tapered lines that disappeared beneath his waistline.

“This lab is insane. You have tools here for so many different fields.” Was it possible he knew how to use all of them? That he knew the story behind all the artifacts lining the hallway? What an impressive memory he must have. “What all do you study?”

“You’ve seen nothing yet.” He set aside her things and gracefully sidled up to a window. She followed.

“This is only my most spacious experimental ground.” He spoke so softly that she had to lean close to make out the words. He smelled like the outdoors on a nice day. Like a walk by the river lined with birch trees. Woodsy.

“My interests are not limited.” He pointed to a tall tower, where a huge telescope jutted from a turret toward the twinkling night sky. “If it is unknown, I wish to uncover it. If it is questioned, I wish to answer it.”

Cassandra’s thoughts whirled into a tizzy. How could he possibly have so much time on his hands? Qadaire glanced at her askance, and for the first time, she saw one side of his mouth ticked up in the faintest grin.

“There’s no greater collection than that of the mind.” Something flickered in his gray features, fading so smoothly that she’d probably imagined it.

Zero coughed a phlegmy cough, snapping her attention to the present. “Well, we have some things in common.”

“Would you like to rest first or begin?”

Cass snorted and strode to the worktable. She patted Zero’s head, then hoisted her case onto the table to spread out her tools.