Page 21 of Crimson Oath
“Fine.” Oleg watched the streetlights as the car drove through empty city streets. “Get it out of your system now so you can play nice.”
More curses in rough Estonian that left Oleg smiling.
He’d tried to lure Radu to his town house with the promise of showing the vampire a new piece of art Oleg had acquired in Cologne the year before. Radu was a lover of any art but especially anything by Marc Chagall, and Oleg had purchased a beautifulnew Chagall piece that was currently hanging in his Bucharest library.
But Radu had insisted on Zarva, so Oleg and Mika took a car to the back alley where the vampire entrance to the club was located and waited as Oleg’s security staff and Radu’s negotiated who and how many were allowed into the club.
Mika made a face when he heard the thumping music. “I will never understand this man.”
Oleg wasn’t sure he understood Radu—how much did any vampire understand another?—but he could appreciate the scope of the immortal’s interests. He owned clubs and bars but also a thriving chain of fresh grocers and numerous farming operations.
“He could have asked to meet us at the cowboy bar,” Oleg said. “This place isn’t that bad.”
Oleg’s man gave them a nod; then Oleg, Mika, and two of their soldiers were allowed to enter the club and walk up a set of stairs to a second story that overlooked a churning human dance floor.
Inside the vampire section, the dance music had been muted to an acceptable level in consideration of immortal ears, and since the human club was packed, the vampire club was as well.
They left their security standing by a wall and walked through the dimly lit club, which was decorated with luxurious velvet wallpaper and leather-upholstered booths. As they threaded their way through the booths and tables, Oleg detected different traces of amnis in the air.
Two young vampires he recognized from Alina’s court, probably in Romania on holiday.
A solitary, dark-haired woman who smelled of ashes and dust. She had the distinct air of Arosh surrounding her.
A jovial table of Greek vampires, newly freed by the recent turnover of their own court.
And in the corner, a former lover named Maria sat with two broad-shouldered, matching vampires who looked like square-headed Cossacks.
Maria glanced Oleg’s way and lifted her glass in a silent toast.
He inclined his head, and it wasn’t lost on him that Maria had been forced to substitute two men to replace him.
In the far corner, Oleg saw a small clutch of Poshani Hazar guards holding court with a group of human women who all wore small ruby pins at their neck. Radu’s hired donors.
The Poshani vampires watched Oleg and Mika with smiles on their faces and suspicion in their eyes.
Their lord waited for his guests in a velvet-shrouded booth where servers slipped in and out with large bottles of blood-wine, trays of caviar, and other delicacies.
“Mika Arakis.” One of the Hazars nodded at Mika, then at Oleg. “Lord Oleg, you are welcome.”
“Duke, how are you?” Mika asked.
The man scanned them up and down, glanced at his men by the wall, and lifted his chin. “All is peaceful, thanks to the clan.”
Oleg asked, “Ready for spring?”
The corner of Duke’s mouth turned up. “Always.”
They walked toward the curtained corner, and Mika pulled back the drapes.
“My friend!” Radu stood and held out his arms. “Welcome.”
He was a barrel-chested man who was probably turned in his mid-thirties, with dark hair, dark eyes, and the sculpted cheekbones characteristic of the Poshani people.
When Radu lived in Bucharest, he was the life of the party, throwing lavish dinners featuring human chefs flown in from across the world. He collected art and wept openly when he went to the ballet, which was frequently.
Radu was also smart as hell, disappeared from public life for six months at a time, and had a mouth like a Moscow taxi driver. He loved hunting and fishing, knew nearly every vampire in Eastern Europe, and ran a moving safe house called the kamvasa.
“Radu.” Oleg walked over, embraced his ally, and patted Raduheartily on the back. “Don’t tell me you’re forced to find women at the nightclubs now.”
