Page 1 of Crimson Oath
Chapter 1
Oleg
The vampire walked up the hill, bathing in the full moonlight and enjoying the crisp ocean breeze that whipped off the Black Sea.
It was spring in the small village on the Crimea, and while war had touched many of the larger towns and cities, in this isolated hamlet, fruit trees were in bloom and pushing flowers, bright yellow mustard dotted the roadside, and lavender fields filled the air with their unmistakable scent.
The vampire carried a gift for his quarry. He wasn’t a barbarian, after all. She would give him the information he was after, and she likely wouldn’t remember a thing afterward.
And if she did…
Well, he would deal with that eventuality when it occurred.
Oleg Sokolov hadn’t become the vampire lord of the Kievan Rus by accident. He didn’t take chances, but he didn’t borrow trouble either. One middle-aged human was not a threat to him, which was why his chief boyar and the rest of his security were waiting at the paved road.
He walked past a wooden barn and up to an old farmhouse witha fresh coat of paint. The shutters were decorated with bright red flowers, and wood trim showed the evidence of fresh repair. The garden was planted, and green heads of lettuce were already springing up in the raised beds.
A newly built dovecote sat next to the house, sheltered by a high fence and protected from the foxes and martens by a dense screen.
Before Oleg could put his hand on the gate, a low, rumbling growl alerted him to the presence of a dog.
A massive shepherd dog of indeterminate heritage crawled out from under the porch and slowly walked toward him. He was three foot at the shoulder with a black face and smoke-grey fur.
“Hmm.” Oleg lifted his chin. “No one ever accused the Vorona women of being careless.” He met the dog’s eyes. “Nice to meet you, sobaka.”
The dog curled his black lip before a thunderous bark broke the shadowy stillness and quieted the burbling coos of the pigeons in the cote.
Oleg raised an eyebrow at the barking dog. “Good. You have alerted your mistress.” He stepped back and lowered his hand from the gate. “Very well, I will wait here.”
It only took moments for the door to open, and the familiar sound of a shotgun being cocked met his ears.
The dog walked to the porch steps and sat, quieting his growl when his mistress shushed him.
“I expected one of you weeks ago,” a voice called from the dark house. “You’re slow.”
Oleg lifted his eyes to the shining barrel of the shotgun and nodded. “We wanted to give you time to settle in.”
Anna Asanova stepped out from the shadow of the doorway and onto the porch, the shotgun pointed at Oleg’s chest. “I’m settled. What do you want?”
“What do you think I want?”
“I don’t know where she is.”
“Are you telling me Tatyana hasn’t made contact with her ownmother?” Oleg shook his head. “I don’t believe you.” He’d also been tracking her mobile phone usage. Anna was getting calls from someone in Georgia, but he couldn’t be sure it was his prey.
“I didn’t say she hasn’t been in touch. I said I don’t know where she is.”
Oleg shrugged. “You know that gun will not kill me.”
“I’ve been told you can die by losing your head,” Anna said. “I’m willing to fire a few times if that’s what it takes.”
She wouldn’t be alive by the second shot, but Oleg didn’t have any desire to kill her. Not if he could help it.
He stepped forward and lifted the package in his left hand. “I brought you a cake.”
Silence.
The dog noticed the bright pink pastry box and let out a high whine. A second later, Oleg saw a drop of drool fall from his dark jowl.
