Sullied

Chapter 19

Nineteen

Sully

Ru is a planner. He sits at the kitchen table, computer in front of him, notebook and calendar sprawled on either side, pen in his mouth as he scrolls some website having to do with train schedules.

I sit across from him, coffee in hand, rat on my shoulder, staring out the massive bay window.

Pristine white snow blankets the yard, snugged up tightly to our little cottage, glittering in the moonlight.

I’ve successfully turned Ru nocturnal without even trying. Well, no, that’s a lie. I may have tried a bit. Like clinging to him and mumbling my protestations when he tried to leave the bed and I wasn’t done sleeping yet.

Works every time.

Ru grunts a huff of frustration. “I can get us north, but I’m having trouble finding night trains west. Ontario isn’t far enough.”

I’m frustrated too, but hesitant to say so. He’s pursuing this plan of escape without really consulting me. Sure, it’s happening in the same room, and sure, he’s sort of telling me what’s going on, but he’s definitely ignoring my mission to take down II Tech before we go.

Which means I’m on my own.

Nothing new for me. Maybe it’s better that way. If I go in alone, I won’t have to worry about Ru getting hurt.

“We could rent a car,” he mutters to himself. “But returning it would be a bitch.”

My senses tingle.

The quietest crunch, crunch, crunch of snow sounds from toward the front of the cabin. Not like the approach of an animal, but like the footsteps of a man. I tense and concentrate. Regular, even, and nearly silent.

Not human then. A human would make more noise.

I scent the air, but either they aren’t close enough or haven’t been near long enough for their smell to permeate.

I’d rather not startle Ru if I don’t have to. Not sure what he could do besides take cover anyway. So I get up, leaving him to his project and meander toward the front door to investigate. Before I get there, someone knocks. Three clean, crisp raps and then silence.

Ru’s on his feet in an instant, rushing toward me. He throws an arm in front of my chest and pushes me behind him. I’m overcome with affection for him. Protecting me when it’s me who ought to be protecting him.

Meanwhile, Twenty-Four ducks under my hair and hides against my nape.

I put a finger to Ru’s lips and whisper, “Shh, let me listen.”

His eyes are wild, body rigid, but he obeys.

No one moves. Outside, the man on the porch is too still.

“It’s a vampire.”

Ru’s nostrils flare. “How do you know?”

“No heartbeat.” After a second’s hesitation, I add, “Could be a zombie. Are zombies real?”

“Fuck. I hope not.” He shuffles closer to the door, keeping me behind him. “This can’t be good.”

“Why not?” I can’t help but feel contrary tonight. And I’m extremely curious about other vampires. “If it was bad, they wouldn’t have knocked. Politely, I might add. They’d have just busted the door down or set the house on fire or—”

“Don’t give them any ideas.”

We creep closer to the door, me on Ru’s heels. I am ready to protect him if need be. I know I’m untrained. Not a fighter. But I’m much stronger and harder to kill. And I won’t let anyone hurt Ru.

“Who’s there?” Ru calls.

A familiar deep voice answers, “It’s Voijin.”

I relax a bit, but not Ru. Ru goes stiff, and his heartbeat quickens. He catches my gaze. “That guy does not mean well.”

“I think he might.”

“He’s creepy as fuck, Sully.”

“Maybe to you. Vampires scare you. But he’s always been decent to me, which is more than I can say for most of II Tech.”

“Being the least creepy guy in a building full of creeps isn’t saying much.”

Outside, Voijin clears his throat. “You gentlemen know I can hear you, right?”

I did know that. Ru knows it too if he bothers to think about it, but he’s too amped up to register anything that’s not an immediate threat.

I reach for the knob.

Ru grabs my wrist.

“Let’s at least see what he wants,” I say gently. Ru doesn’t stop me as I open the door, but he’s tense as a deer frozen in headlights. That’s a thing, right? Deer do that?

He elbows his way to stay in front.

Voijin makes no move to enter. He stands several feet back, arms at his side, palms open and forward. “Hello, Sullivan. Dr. Martin.”

“Hi, Voijin,” I say from behind Ru’s shoulder.

Ru fires questions like bullets. “How did you find us? What do you want? Do the others know you’re here?”

Voijin remains still, his posture unthreatening.

There’s a brown leather messenger bag across his body stuffed to bursting.

“One answer at a time, yes? First, I tracked Sullivan when you first moved him from your home to here. I know his scent well after all these years. Second, I want to help. And third, no. No one else knows. You’re safe with me. ”

I want to believe him.

Ru doesn’t. “Bullshit. If you knew where we were all this time, why wait until now?”

He clasps his hands and drops his shoulders. “You didn’t need my help before. You do now.”

“We don’t.”

I nudge him. “Ru, let’s listen to what he has to say.” Plus I want what’s in that bag. The scent of medical grade plastic calls to me because I can guess what’s inside.

“Sullivan’s future matters to me,” says Voijin. “As it obviously matters to you. Please take what I offer.”

Ru’s expression is tight. He frowns. I want to push, but it’ll be better if he comes to the decision himself.

So I wait.

Meanwhile, I study Voijin. He’s dressed in a fitted brown suit. His cap toe oxfords shine with a fresh polish. He’s looking past Ru directly at me with a hint of fondness I find surprising.

We were never close. Just because he hasn’t personally abused me, doesn't mean we were ever… fond. But his expression can’t be denied. He’s glad to see me.

Weird.

“Fine.” Ru backs away from the door, one hand balled into a fist, the other still holding my wrist. “Come in. But don’t make me regret it.”

Voijin tips his chin and slides past us, into the cabin.

“Wait, did we have to invite him in for him to enter? Is that true?” I ask Ru, only slightly irritated that he knows more about real vampires than I do.

It’s Voijin who answers. “Permission isn’t necessary for a vampire to enter, no, but as your guest I’d never enter uninvited out of simple courtesy.”

Voijin. Our guest. Wild.

I know very little about being a host, but I feel I should provide refreshment. Tea, maybe, which we don’t have and I don’t know how to make anyway. “Um, would you like some juice?”

Voijin offers a slow smile, fangs peeking from beneath thin lips. “No, thank you. I cannot drink juice.”

Oh. Right. He’s a full vampire. Nothing but blood, and I’m definitely not offering that.

After some awkward posturing on Ru’s part, and my effort at casualness to soften our welcome, we settle in the living room. Me and Ru side by side on the sofa, and him in the rocking chair opposite.

He takes off the messenger bag, sets it in his lap, and folds his hands atop the leather.

I’m curious. “Was that you? Outside Ru’s house before? We went looking but didn’t find anyone.”

“Yes, only me. Just making sure you were safe, that’s all. I promise.”

“Why would you care?” asks Ru.

“My reasons are my own, but please trust I wish no harm on you or your lover.”

I flinch. Ru stares. We look at each other and hold a silent conversation. How does he know that? Has he been listening? Gross. Let’s not think about it any more than we have to.

“Sorry, should I not have assumed?” he asks.

Too late, I think. “How can you help us?”

He pats the bag. “This for one. Blood. You must be running low. Unless…” His gaze slides from me, to Ru, and back to me. “Perhaps not.”

When neither of us confirm or deny whatever he’s insinuating, he goes on, “And documents. Birth certificate, social security card, passport, driver’s license. All under the name Saul Koval with current photos of Sullivan. Should be enough for anything you’d like to do. Work. Travel. Etcetera.”

That does solve a problem Ru’s been stuck on for several nights, and gets us one step closer to leaving. Puts me in a bind, though. Destroy II Tech, yes, but Voijin along with it? After his offer to help us? I’d rather not.

But can I risk warning him?

Ru would say no.

But Ru isn’t exactly taking me seriously when it comes to II Tech.

“Are you leaving?” asks Voijin. “You can’t stay here forever. It’s too close, and this property doesn’t belong to you. Records say it belongs to—”

“Leave the owners out of this.” Ru’s voice betrays his nerves. “They have nothing to do with us, or you, or II Tech.”

I lean into him and rest a hand on his thigh, but he doesn’t relax one iota.

“It wasn’t my intention to cause you duress in coming here. I won’t harm you or those you care about.”

“Then why are you helping? What do you want from us?”

“I’m helping because I can. Because I want to. And all I ask is for Sullivan to remain in touch with me. If you vanish off to somewhere so far I can’t track him, then I won’t be able to protect him if he needs me.”

Ru’s muscles tense under my palm. “Why protect him at all?”

“I could ask you the same, Dr. Martin.”

This is so weird.

Twenty-Four chooses this moment to let his curiosity get the best of him, creeping around my neck and out from under my hair to sneak a peek of Voijin.

The vampire notices immediately. “I was wondering if I’d get to see your fellow escapee.”

I scoop Twenty-Four into my hand and cradle him against my chest. “He’s doing well. Gained some weight.”

“As have you.” He looks me over. “You look well, Sullivan.”

Yeah, time to fix that. “That’s not my name anymore. Call me Sully.”

He tips his head. “Sully, then. Tell me, how do you like the great wide world?”

Thinking on this, I realize how little of it I’ve seen.

The inside of Ru’s house, the highway, the Motel 6, two grocery stores, and now this cabin.

And I’ve loved all of it. “I like it a great deal better than my cell.” This train of thought brings fresh anger.

Anger that surprises me. “Why did you keep me locked up?”

Voijin’s expression drops and so does his gaze. Like he can’t bear to meet my eyes anymore. Good. He should be ashamed, but beside him, Ru is also shrinking. And that I don’t want. It’s Voijin who owes me answers, not Ru.

He’s silent for so long, I think he won’t respond at all.

Finally he says, “I’m tempted to foist the blame on all the others. The ones you know, such as Oliver Kalinov. Others you’ve never met: Anton and Katya. But this truth is, I’m as much to blame as they are. Maybe even more.”

“How so?” Ru asks, which I appreciate, because I’m a bit stunned and I want Voijin to keep talking.

“I could have freed you, couldn’t I? Taken you and run, as Dr. Martin plans to do now.

There were obstacles, of course, there always are, but I could have done it.

Instead I waited. And waited. And I’d probably have kept waiting, but thankfully you didn’t wait.

You took your chance and fled. I’ve never been more proud. ”

“Proud,” says Ru. “Why would you be proud?”

“You haven’t guessed?” He tilts his gaze up and looks at me, then Ru, then a slow smile stretches as his focus shifts back to me. “Sully, you’re my fledgling.”