Read Online Imperium (Caulborn) by Nicholas Olivo - Free Book Online
Authors: Nicholas Olivo
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and I gave them a quick rundown of the people that had disappeared. Bruli shook his head. “Aside from my own people, I have not heard of any of the community going missing. I will make some inquiries, though, and will send a message to the Galahad if I learn anything. Will that be sufficient?”
“Quite sufficient, Mr. Bruli,” Megan said, rising. “Caulborn Corinthos and I thank you for your time this evening.”
Bruli stood opposite to her and gave a short bow. “It was truly an honor, Caulborn Hayes.” He held up a hand. “While I wish for Caulborn Gomez's safe return, I would ask if we might have the pleasure of your company again some evening. It’s been some time since a woman of your particular caliber has graced this building.” The women on the couch tensed at this remark, and their eyes narrowed at Megan. I held the Urisk’s faith ready, just in case.
“Perhaps,” Megan said. “You must understand that my duties are my first priority, Mr. Bruli. Finding these missing individuals is my one and only goal at the moment.”
“My dear,” Tom said, “if you only focus on your duties, you will find that life will pass you by. You have many, many years ahead of you, and the weight of duty only gets heavier as the decades pass. Do remember to enjoy yourself from time to time. Pay an occasional visit to us, that’s all I ask. I’m sure we could learn much from one another.”
“That is a gracious offer, Mr. Bruli. I shall consider it. Thank you again for your time this evening.”
Tom nodded to us and showed us out of the office. Lucille took us down to the lobby where our weapons were returned to us. That done, Lucille walked us out of the building and back to the alleyway where we’d first met her. “Any idea what might have happened to your people?” I asked. “The ones who vanished?”
Lucille shook her head. “None. The Blood Runners have always been reckless, we figured they had something to do with it. Now that we know otherwise, though...” She sighed as she trailed off. I noticed she kept me between herself and Megan. It was like she was afraid of the other woman. That bothered me. Could it be possible that Megan really was Strigoi Viu? Lucille turned to me. “I trust you can make it back from here?”
“Yes, thank you for the escort, Lucille.”
She nodded to us and disappeared into the night. Megan and I strode to the Tercel. I was amazed at how poised Megan was as she moved. We got back into the car and shut the doors.
Megan started the car, placed her hands at a perfect ten and two position on the wheel, and drove for about two blocks before she pulled over again. Her knuckles were pure white. “Megan?” I asked.
“They scared me,” she whispered. “They’re so...wrong.” She turned to me, stark horror shining in those brilliant blue eyes. “They called me Strigoi Viu. What does that mean?”
Crap. “Well,” I began, “In Romania, they believed that someone born with a caul would rise as a vampire lord after they died, and would command armies of undead. Until you die, you are called Strigoi Viu, or living vampire.” Megan’s face paled even further and she brought a hand up to her mouth. “I wouldn’t worry about that, though,” I added. “As far as I know, none of the Caulborn have ever reanimated after they died.”
I could see that she was fighting to keep her composure. Way to put her mind at ease, Corinthos. “Don’t worry, Meg,” I said, taking one of her hands. “I was scared too when I learned about that particular legend. Then I did some research, talked to Galahad and a few other people, and found out that’s all it was—a legend. Caulborn have been active here in America for over four hundred years and there’s never been a single account of Strigoi Viu. It’s the same in all the other countries we have offices in. If you’d like, tomorrow I can point you at the places I learned from.” I’d mention this to Galahad in the morning.
“Quite sufficient, Mr. Bruli,” Megan said, rising. “Caulborn Corinthos and I thank you for your time this evening.”
Bruli stood opposite to her and gave a short bow. “It was truly an honor, Caulborn Hayes.” He held up a hand. “While I wish for Caulborn Gomez's safe return, I would ask if we might have the pleasure of your company again some evening. It’s been some time since a woman of your particular caliber has graced this building.” The women on the couch tensed at this remark, and their eyes narrowed at Megan. I held the Urisk’s faith ready, just in case.
“Perhaps,” Megan said. “You must understand that my duties are my first priority, Mr. Bruli. Finding these missing individuals is my one and only goal at the moment.”
“My dear,” Tom said, “if you only focus on your duties, you will find that life will pass you by. You have many, many years ahead of you, and the weight of duty only gets heavier as the decades pass. Do remember to enjoy yourself from time to time. Pay an occasional visit to us, that’s all I ask. I’m sure we could learn much from one another.”
“That is a gracious offer, Mr. Bruli. I shall consider it. Thank you again for your time this evening.”
Tom nodded to us and showed us out of the office. Lucille took us down to the lobby where our weapons were returned to us. That done, Lucille walked us out of the building and back to the alleyway where we’d first met her. “Any idea what might have happened to your people?” I asked. “The ones who vanished?”
Lucille shook her head. “None. The Blood Runners have always been reckless, we figured they had something to do with it. Now that we know otherwise, though...” She sighed as she trailed off. I noticed she kept me between herself and Megan. It was like she was afraid of the other woman. That bothered me. Could it be possible that Megan really was Strigoi Viu? Lucille turned to me. “I trust you can make it back from here?”
“Yes, thank you for the escort, Lucille.”
She nodded to us and disappeared into the night. Megan and I strode to the Tercel. I was amazed at how poised Megan was as she moved. We got back into the car and shut the doors.
Megan started the car, placed her hands at a perfect ten and two position on the wheel, and drove for about two blocks before she pulled over again. Her knuckles were pure white. “Megan?” I asked.
“They scared me,” she whispered. “They’re so...wrong.” She turned to me, stark horror shining in those brilliant blue eyes. “They called me Strigoi Viu. What does that mean?”
Crap. “Well,” I began, “In Romania, they believed that someone born with a caul would rise as a vampire lord after they died, and would command armies of undead. Until you die, you are called Strigoi Viu, or living vampire.” Megan’s face paled even further and she brought a hand up to her mouth. “I wouldn’t worry about that, though,” I added. “As far as I know, none of the Caulborn have ever reanimated after they died.”
I could see that she was fighting to keep her composure. Way to put her mind at ease, Corinthos. “Don’t worry, Meg,” I said, taking one of her hands. “I was scared too when I learned about that particular legend. Then I did some research, talked to Galahad and a few other people, and found out that’s all it was—a legend. Caulborn have been active here in America for over four hundred years and there’s never been a single account of Strigoi Viu. It’s the same in all the other countries we have offices in. If you’d like, tomorrow I can point you at the places I learned from.” I’d mention this to Galahad in the morning.
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