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A
s promised, Aleksandar arrived back at the precinct promptly at seven in the evening, wearing what was, for him, a casual suit. Alicia was so buried in a case brief that she hadn’t noticed the time. She jumped in surprise when Aleksandar greeted her from beside her desk. Brody had gone for coffee and was yet to return.
“Mr. Svetoslav!” Alicia gasped. She checked her watch, then said, “Shit.”
The small, gentle smile Aleksandar often wore returned. “Aleksandar, please.”
“I’m sorry,” Alicia said. “I lost track of time.” She stood and grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair.
“Busy?”
“You know how it is. Understaffed and under-funded.” Alicia smiled. “Can you give me a few minutes?”
“I have all evening,” Aleksandar said smoothly. “Though I’ve made reservations for eight.”
Alicia smiled graciously. “I won’t be long, I promise.” And with that, she jogged down the hall and through a door. Aleksandar watched her a moment, before turning and leaning on the desk. He saw Detective Brody frozen in the hall, staring at him with a cup of steaming coffee in his hand. The detective straightened and walked as casually as he could to his desk.
“Here for Alicia?” he asked, keeping his tone light. Still, the steel beneath his words could not be missed.
“As promised,” Aleksandar replied.
Brody grunted, then spoke quietly. “Look, I don’t know what your end game is, Mr. Svetoslav—” He spat Aleksandar’s name out as if it was a sour thing on his tongue. “—but if you hurt her, I will move the earth to bring you down.”
“End game?” Aleksandar asked. “I was hoping for some tapas and wine.”
“Yo! Wilde!” Detective Wade boomed as Alicia returned to the floor wearing a bright sundress. His loud call broke the contest of wills at Brody’s desk. Both men looked down the hall and Aleksandar straightened.
Alicia’s hair flowed in thick waves, a deep brown that shone red in places. Her arms were bare, revealing both smooth, olive skin and musculature that gave measure to an active life.
She turned her head towards Detective Wade, who swaggered up to her. “Looking good tonight. Special occasion?”
Smiling, Alicia nodded towards Aleksandar. “Date,” she said simply. She felt slightly guilty for the pleasure of the brief flash of unhappiness that crossed Detective Wade’s features when he glanced at Aleksandar, but the constant advances of the detective had grated on her nerves too often. He needed to be brought down a peg or two.
Not waiting for Wade’s response, Alicia continued on her way to her desk noticing, with a sharp jolt of pleasure, Aleksandar’s wide-eyed gaze. He recovered himself by the time Alicia arrived, offering her a dashing smile. “You do look very beautiful,” he said softly.
Despite her best efforts, Alicia blushed. “Thank you,” she murmured. She reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a handbag. “Ready when you are.”
Smiling at her again, Aleksandar offered his arm, which Alicia took after a moment of surprised hesitation. They walked down the hall towards the exit together.
“Call me when you get home!” Detective Brody called. The only indication Alicia gave that she heard was a brief wave of her hand. She did not even turn around. Brody narrowed his eyes, grumbled into his coffee and sat down at his desk, working overtime as always.
“Brody seems very protective of you,” Aleksandar mentioned as they exited the precinct.
Alicia sighed. “Please don’t take offence. He means well.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” Aleksandar replied. “And I happen to think it’s a good thing. It’s nice to have people looking out for you.”
“To a point,” Alicia said dryly, smiling as Aleksandar laughed.
He led her to his luxury black sedan, beside which stood Stoyan in a sharp suit and sunglasses.
“Master Svetoslav,” he greeted with a curt nod as he opened the back passenger door. “Ms. Wilde.”
“Hello,” Alicia replied, smiling up at the burly Bulgarian. She could not help but notice the small twitch at the corners of Stoyan’s lips as he tried to suppress a returning smile under a veneer of gruff professionalism. It broadened her smile. She accepted Stoyan’s help to get into the car, sliding over to make room for Aleksandar who followed, wearing his soft, amused smile.
“What is it?” Alicia asked when she noticed his expression.
“Stoyan,” Aleksandar answered, amusement thickening his smooth voice. “He’s not fooling anyone.”
“Oh?”
“He takes his role as my driver very seriously, and he’s trying very hard to fit the model of driver/bodyguard, but he has a hard time keeping a smile off his face. And he tries so hard to be intimidating.”
“I am intimidating,” Stoyan said from the driver’s seat. He looked up at the rear-view mirror and flashed Alicia a quick grin before starting the sedan.
“I find you very intimidating,” Alicia said.
“See?” Stoyan demanded of his friend and employer.
Aleksandar laughed.
They drove for a time through the streets of the central business district, Aleksandar asking questions about certain places of Alicia, who was happy to answer. His interest in the city and its history provided her with a fresh perspective on her home. Suddenly, it wasn’t so drab and commonplace.
They arrived fifteen minutes later, near the nightclub district where a number of high-end restaurants competed for the money of the wealthy. Stoyan parked and quickly came around to open the door for Aleksandar.
“I can manage,” Aleksandar grumbled as he stepped out of the car.
Stoyan grinned at him. “You must uphold certain appearances, Master Svetoslav.”
“Of what? Helplessness?” Aleksandar turned and offered his hand to Alicia, who declined to take it.
“I can manage,” she mimicked as she stepped out of the vehicle. Aleksandar blinked in surprise and Stoyan could no longer contain his mirth. He laughed brightly.
“I like her,” he said, making Alicia grin.
“Touché,” Aleksandar said, his smile returning. He again offered his arm, which Alicia did accept.
“I’ll wait with the car,” Stoyan said.
Nodding, Aleksandar led Alicia away and into a restaurant.
“Stoyan seems like a good man to have around,” Alicia said as they entered the tapas and wine bar.
“He is an excellent man to have around,” Aleksandar agreed. “And a good friend besides.”
“You’ve known each other a while?”
“Almost all my life.”
“Good evening, sir,” a snooty-sounding host greeted as the couple arrived in the waiting area.
“Good evening,” Aleksandar greeted. “We have a reservation for eight. The name is Svetoslav.”
Upon hearing the name of the city’s most recent wealthy inhabitant, the host immediately brightened. He made a show of checking his book. “Of course,” he said. “Please follow me.”
The host led the way to a high table for two that sat near a cheerily crackling fireplace. Alicia looked around at the rich wood and leather furniture and the lavish decorations of the restaurant as the host explained the procedure.
“Have either of you eaten here before?”
“No,” Aleksandar answered.
“Ah, well, permit me to explain. There are no menus, as you can see. We provide twenty-two taster courses created by our chef and each is served with a wine specifically chosen to compliment the food. Today’s chef is Bruno Mejia and you will be served tonight by Martin Vazquez. Do you have any questions?”
Aleksandar looked across at Alicia, his brows raised. She responded with a small shake of her head.
“Not at present,” Aleksandar replied. “Thank you.”
“A pleasure, sir, madame. Please enjoy your meal.”
Alicia watched the host leave before turning to her date. “This place is fancy,” she said.
Shrugging, Aleksandar replied, “What is the point of having money if you cannot enjoy it every once in a while?” He offered a quick grin. “And I was hoping to impress.”
Alicia laughed but was robbed of her chance to utter a snappy retort when their waiter arrived. “Good evening, Monsieur, Madame,” he said, mispronouncing ‘monsieur.’ Aleksandar’s amused smile returned.
“My name is Martin. I will be your waiter this evening. Chef Mejia will have your first course prepared in a moment. In the meantime, is there anything you require?”
“I’m fine, thank you,” Alicia said.
Aleksandar simply shook his head and Martin the waiter gave a short bow. “Very good. I shall return in a moment with the first course.” And then he was off, flouncing his way to the next table.
“They should probably give him French lessons,” Aleksandar said.
“There aren’t many people who would know the difference,” Alicia said.
Aleksandar looked at her in surprise. “Is French not required learning in schools here?”
“No,” Alicia said with a dismissive laugh. “Why would it be? Not many people are going to require knowledge of it.”
“Oh.”
“Why? Was it required learning for you?”
“It was.”
“Really? Is that a British thing?”
“It must be.”
The first course arrived. Tiny spicy shrimps atop pureed, seasoned avocado arrived on Asian soup spoons, along with two very small glasses of a white wine.
“This,” Martin said, placing the small plates with the spoons resting on them before the diners, “is a Mexican-Vietnamese inspired shrimp and avocado. It’s quite spicy. We’ve paired this dish with a rich and fruity Gewürztraminer. It has a sweet finish, which will complement the spice nicely.”
“Thank you,” Alicia said, shifting back in her seat slightly to permit Martin to place all the items at their small, intimate table.
Martin offered a tight smile and then flounced off again.
Alicia picked up her spoon. “It’s... cute,” she said. She put the spoon in her mouth and almost choked. “It’s really spicy,” she said.
Laughing, Aleksandar ate his first course and they talked over the wine. Plate after tiny plate arrived, each with its own small serving of wine. By the time the twelfth plate arrived, Alicia felt quite full and a little light-headed from the wine. Still, she was enjoying Aleksandar’s company immensely. He did not appear afflicted with the stiff distance to normal people that many of the wealthy frequently possessed.
He was careful to thank the server often and, contrary to what the tabloids were accusing him of, he was by no means standoffish or aloof. He was also an exceptional listener and appeared genuinely interested in what Alicia had to say. During a lull in the conversation, Alicia looked over the rim of her wineglass at him.
She could not make up her mind about him. He was beautiful, she could readily admit, but by no means the kind of effeminate beauty that had become popular with women of late. Black hair curled thickly on his head, and his eyes were so dark they appeared almost black as well. His skin, however, was porcelain white and not unmarked. A scar puckered his bottom lip slightly, though it was clearly old. There was also evidence of a break or two on the bridge of his nose. His full lips might have appeared feminine were it not for the easy masculinity of the rest of him.
Despite her knowing that he was the modern equivalent of an aristocrat, he seemed to Alicia that he would be as comfortable in a carpenter’s workshop as in a boardroom surrounded by high-powered corporate types. He was relaxed and made easy, stimulating conversation, putting her at ease. Mostly.
There was something else about him, something that she could not quite comprehend, that kept a small knot of apprehension in her stomach. It was not the butterflies of sitting across from a handsome and thoroughly enticing man on a first date. She had those, and they fluttered around the other knot, the knot that told her she was in immediate danger.
She examined his face, noting the perpetual sadness present in his eyes, which vanished when he smiled. She observed the breadth of his shoulders, shoulders made for long days of hard labour and how low and relaxed they sat. She studied his broad, strong hands as they played with his wine glass while they conversed.
There were only two things she could conclude from this careful survey; that she wanted this man, and he was incredibly dangerous.
“I notice you haven’t asked me about Brody at all,” Alicia said, breaking her own train of thought.
“You said it was not your place,” Aleksandar answered.
“It’s not. But you seemed curious before.”
“And so I remain,” Aleksandar said. “I tried to broach the subject with him today, but he did not seem keen to talk about it.”
Alicia nodded. “Understandable.”
“I’m not sure I really want to know,” Aleksandar said with a sigh.
Alicia looked at him in surprise, so he explained.
“I understand it has something to do with the Üstrel family. I have spent the entirety of my time here trying to make heads or tails out of the mess they left behind. And the more I learn about them, the less I like them.”
“Aren’t you related?”
“Very distantly. We mingled at parties and large family functions. There they seemed like perfectly normal people; if the very wealthy can be considered normal at all.” Aleksandar shrugged. “I never expected them to be so...”
Aleksandar struggled to find an appropriate word.
“Crooked?” Alicia supplied.
“Close enough,” Aleksandar said, smiling. “Every corporation takes full advantage of as many legal loopholes as they can. The Üstrel family didn’t care to do even that much.”
“I read about the hospital staff pensions.”
“That has been sorted. They should have their full pensions restored within three years.”
“I read that too. Do you mind if I get personal?”
Aleksandar watched Alicia for a brief, discomforting moment before nodding. “Is that why you’re doing... well... everything you’re doing?”
“How do you mean, Ms. Wilde?”
“The deal you cut with the hospital and university — giving up profits for three years and increasing the pensions so much — and providing private healthcare for all your employees and this new building project in the ghetto, not to mention the sizeable donation you made to the Children’s Christmas fund... Are you doing this to compensate for what the Üstrels did?”
Sinking back into thought, Aleksandar took his time answering. “In part, I suppose. Though, the Svetoslav family has a tradition of philanthropy. It’s ... well, it’s just what is done.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re in a fortunate position that ensures we can get these things done. We have the means. And it can only be good for business.”
“Oh really?”
“Well, yes.”
Alicia wasn’t sure whether Aleksandar’s puzzled expression at her question was genuine.
“Happy workers are less likely to leave which builds experience, and that kind of experience within a company counts for a lot. Training new members takes time and funds, and some mistakes can be very costly. These mistakes are easily avoided by a person with experience. A company would be wise to keep people like that on. Ensuring workers are healthy is part of that; the health care the company provides also helps to ensure our employees are not distracted by worries outside of work when they arrive in the morning. They can focus on their work. It creates a happier, more loyal, more effective workforce.”
“And the philanthropy?”
“Most people, if given the opportunity, would do things the right way. If you collapse people into crippling poverty, they get desperate. Desperate people are generally violent and unpredictable. It is not a coincidence that crime rates are highest in the poorest neighbourhoods. And what company can possibly function when surrounded by violence and discord? And what company, for that matter, could possibly sell their products and prosper when no one has the funds to buy them?”
“You’ll find that most CEOs don’t agree,” Alicia said scornfully.
“Then they’re idiots. Certainly wealthy enough to last a little while, but any economic or social collapse will eventually catch up to them too. They are, we are, much better off when everyone is much better off.”
“You know, the fact that you didn’t make this about morality makes it more believable.”
“Would you not have believed me if I told you that helping others makes me feel better?”
“I’ve met too many rich folk to, I’m afraid.”
The amused smile returned to Aleksandar’s face. “Well then, I won’t tell you that.”
Alicia laughed, playing absently with the small opal pendant she wore around her neck.
“An October child?” Aleksandar asked.
Alicia blinked in surprise, and Aleksandar inclined his head towards the pendant Alicia still clutched.
“Opal is the birthstone for October, is it not?”
“Oh!” she said breathily, flashing a smile. “Yes. October baby, just like my Dad.”
Aleksandar nodded.
“You?” she asked.
“November,” Aleksandar said. “After the colours of autumn and before the snows of winter.” He offered her a slightly sad smile. In his current incarnation, his forged birth certificate indicated that he was a May child. But before he had met his sire, Theodore Svetoslav, long before he fought with his father and fled his family, he had been the second-youngest child of Bulgarian farmers, born in the short space between seasons. He should have lied, but he felt compelled to tell Alicia the truth, or as much of it as he could without breaking the Covenant. He wanted her to know him, truly know him. Aleksandar realised with a sudden jolt that he was lonely and Alicia, with her wide brown eyes and bright smile, was the first person in more lifetimes than he cared to remember who stirred a longing deeper and more powerful than the hunger of his curse ever could.
Alicia watched him withdraw into himself, his small smile falling away as he delved into his thoughts. He seemed at that moment less dangerous than miserable and she wondered at it.
“Are you okay?” she asked, reaching across their small table and placing a hand over his.
Aleksandar looked at the hand a moment before shifting his so that his fingers closed over hers. Her skin was smooth and warm, and he could feel her pulse beat steadily beneath it. He looked up at her and, seeing genuine concern, smiled.
“I’m all right,” he replied. “Just thinking.”
The next course arrived then, breaking the bubble the two of them had created for themselves. The sounds of a packed restaurant flooded back to their ears; the clinking of cutlery, the soft murmur of muted conversations punctuated by short bouts of laughter. The light of the fireplace flickered back into their vision, as did the mouth-watering smell of the food set before them.
Alicia quickly withdrew her hand, her skin tingling from his cool touch. Aleksandar regretted the loss of her warmth and his hand curled into a loose fist on the table. Deciding to lighten the mood, Alicia steered the conversation towards questions about Britain, which Aleksandar happily answered and before long both were smiling and laughing again.
By the time dinner finished, Alicia was slightly more than tipsy. It made it easier to ignore the knot of warning in her stomach. They exited the restaurant and were greeted by the noise of late-night diners and early clubbers.
Alicia pulled a face. “I don’t want to go home yet,” she said.
“A walk then?”
“A walk sounds lovely.”
Aleksandar caught Stoyan’s eye, who had straightened once he spied Aleksandar and Alicia. Understanding without a word spoken to him, he followed Aleksandar and Alicia at enough of a distance to give them some privacy, but close enough to act quickly if anything were to happen.
For a while they walked in silence, simply enjoying the buzz of the city at night and each other’s company. At Alicia’s suggestion, they turned their course towards the large park. Once they were walking in the quiet park, she slipped her shoes off with an apologetic smile.
“I don’t know why we do this to ourselves,” she said apologetically, holding up her pumps. “Heels really are the devil.” She paused. “You’re not offended by bare feet, are you?”
Aleksandar smirked, his dark eyes twinkling. “Not at all.”
“Oh good.” They began walking again, arm in arm.
“About Brendon,” Alicia said after a while. “He’s actually not a bad kid. He’s just like most who are caught up in terrible situations.”
“I have no doubt as to the quality of his heart,” Aleksandar said. “I’ve watched him work with Stoyan on the house. He works hard. And my friend is fond of him. I trust that. Stoyan is an excellent judge of character.”
“Then, if you don’t mind me asking, why were you against fostering him?”
Aleksandar sighed. He could not tell her that he was worried about being discovered, that having a human living in an Opyri household was dangerous to everything he had tried to build in the months he had lived here. He could not tell her that he was worried that one of his House may lose control of their hunger. He could not say that Brendon would be risking his life living with him.
So, instead, he simply said, “I cannot hope to raise a child well. I have no experience at all, and I am far too busy at the moment to spare the time it would require.”
“What do you mean you have no experience? Do you not have any younger siblings or anything?”
Aleksandar shook his head. “None.”
“No siblings at all.”
Again, Aleksandar shook his head. Then he smiled. “I do have a niece. Well, we are very distantly related, but she calls me uncle and I suppose I am, for all intents and purposes. Though, I see her very infrequently and less so now that she’s half a world away.”
“In Britain?”
Aleksandar nodded. “In any case, I fear I won’t be around much. Brendon needs patience and guidance. I’m afraid I can provide neither.”
“I don’t know,” Alicia said. “I think you seem pretty patient to me.”
“I took acting classes,” Aleksandar quipped and Alicia laughed.
Somewhere else in the park someone struck up music with an accordion. The notes floated through the air, carrying well in the night. Aleksandar stopped and listened, recognising the tune as Hungarian. He smiled and turned to Alicia. Holding out his hand to her, he asked, “Would you like to dance, Ms. Wilde?”
Alicia’s smile brightened. “It would be my pleasure, Mr. Svetoslav,” she answered in her best posh accent.
She took Aleksandar’s hand and he bowed to her. Mocking him slightly, she curtsied. “I don’t really know how to dance anything but salsa,” she murmured as Aleksandar pulled her close, his hand resting firmly on her lower back.
“I am the man,” Aleksandar answered. “I lead.”
He smiled as he felt Alicia relax and, following the bright music of the distant accordion, he led her in a stately waltz.
Alicia felt as if she was floating. She could barely feel her feet touch the ground as Aleksandar swept her across the cool grass, his steps confident and powerful. She was aware of nothing but the firmness of his body pressed against hers, the clean, creamy smell of his skin, and the sensation of being weightless. The music stopped, but she did not notice. She let her head rest against Aleksandar’s chest and she felt his arm tighten around her. On and on they danced.
“Ouch!” Alicia said suddenly, stumbling. Aleksandar pulled away immediately.
“What? Are you all right?”
Alicia sighed, angry at the sudden sharp pain in the ball of her right foot for breaking the magic. She picked up that foot and turned it. A twig hung from the bottom of her foot, blood welling up around the puncture.
“Damn it,” she hissed.
Seeing the wound, Aleksandar immediately picked Alicia up and, as if she weighed nothing at all, carried her to the nearest park bench.
“I’m fine,” she said with a sigh. “It’s nothing.” She reached down and yanked the twig out. A thick spurt of blood ejected from the wound.
“Crap,” she said.
Aleksandar removed the handkerchief he kept in his breast pocket and pressed it to the bleeding wound. He felt his stomach tighten painfully as the warmth of her blood oozed through the fabric onto his fingers. He felt the hunger that plagued all Opyri rise. He sighed.
“I should take you home,” he said.
Alicia sighed. “I guess so.” She reached down and took over the handkerchief. “I need to clean this up.”
Aleksandar motioned and Alicia looked up to spy Stoyan walking swiftly away. “Has he been following us this whole time?” she demanded.
“Bodyguard,” Aleksandar said, offering a crooked smile.
Alicia rolled her eyes. “That must get tiresome.”
Aleksandar said nothing, but his amused smile returned. It seemed a little strained, Alicia noted. A buzz from Aleksandar’s inner pocket announced the car had arrived. Aleksandar briefly checked his phone for an exact location, then helped Alicia to her feet. She had replaced her shoes with the bloodied handkerchief folded up under the puncture, hoping that the pressure would help stem the blood. She gratefully leant her weight against Aleksandar as they made their way out of the park in silence.
“Serves me right,” Alicia sighed as they approached Aleksandar’s luxury sedan. Stoyan stood at the car, holding the back passenger door open.
“Running around without shoes on.”
Aleksandar smiled at her. “I don’t know,” he said lightly. “You dance very well without shoes.”
Smiling, Alicia climbed into the car and soon they were off, driving through the city towards her home, directed by the sultry voice of the sat. nav. She felt slightly embarrassed as the cityscape changed from luxury apartments to large houses to smaller houses. Alicia was not impoverished, but having someone like Aleksandar see just how modestly she lived was slightly discomforting. She chided herself fiercely for feeling this way.
They arrived in good time, Stoyan less concerned about traffic laws than his employer. Aleksandar exited the car before Stoyan could get to the door.
“That is not fair,” the driver grumbled. Aleksandar offered him the cheekiest of smiles before escorting Alicia to her front door. She pulled out her keys swiftly and unlocked the door.
“Thank you, Aleksandar,” she said. “I had a wonderful time.”
“As did I,” Aleksandar said with a small smile.
Alicia paused, the silence awkward. She desperately wanted to invite him inside, but didn’t think it would be the best idea in her present state.
“I would like to dance with you again,” Aleksandar said, smoothly breaking the awkwardness of the moment.
“I would like that very much.”
Hesitantly, Aleksandar moved closer. He leant forward and kissed Alicia gently on her cheek. He could feel her body flush with heat and knew what it meant. He could not indulge this time; his stomach spasmed with the power of his hunger and his limbs trembled with the effort of control. So, instead, he stepped back and stroked Alicia’s cheek.
“I will call you,” he said.
“Okay,” Alicia replied. She pushed open her door and stepped inside. “Goodnight,” she said, smiling.
“Goodnight,” Aleksandar replied. He waited at her door until he heard the dull click of the bolt sliding into place before returning to the car.
“Good evening?” Stoyan asked as he held the door for Aleksandar.
“Yes,” Aleksandar said softly. “Very good.” His tone was strange, coloured by a melancholic distance that Stoyan recognised.
“She is a good girl,” the driver said as he slid behind the steering wheel.
Aleksandar said nothing. He looked out the window.
“And you are a good man.”
“I need to feed,” Aleksandar said flatly. Stoyan sighed and changed course.