The only indication that Kyvan had made the transition from the monk’s cells to the stone cottage @nerguiheng currently resided in was a momentary need to simultaneously stoop and high-step. He supposed he should be glad the castiron wood stove heated the space more efficiently than the giant kitchen fireplace that hid the entrance to the cave system.

Kyvan sat slumped against the wall amind the wreckage of what had been his music room. He suspected Nergui had removed the most precious and priceless instruments but there was really no way to know that. Hell, he couldn’t even tell what instruments the splinters littering the floor around him might have been.

His head fell back against the wall with a resounding thump Kyvan didn’t even feel. He was exhausted. Rage did that when it was spent. Unfortunately, all this destruction didn’t do a damn thing for his grief.

The news was not good. Kyiv was back in lockdown after a recent surge in COVID cases. Several other cities and regions, including Chernihiv, were disgnated “orange” and on the brink of following suit. Supplies and food were definitely going to become harder to get. Probably more expensive too. 

It was during times such as these that Kyvan truly did not understand humans. Things should be starting to turn around with the discovery and distribution of vaccines. Instead, things seemed to be headed the opposite direction. Again.

DARKNESS

The cell was dark. Kyvan could see perfectly well which told him it was a human cell not something constructed by his kind. That was good news and bad news. The good news being he had survived both the concert and his apparent arrest. The bad news was he would eventually have to face his kind and they weren’t likely to look favorably on his very public loss of control. And Kyvan had no doubt that it had been very public. The last thing he remembered with any clarity was being on stage in Vegas.

Vegas. That added another wrinkle to the situation. After Felipe had married Kezi, the King had disappeared. No one quite knew what happened to Felipe, some rumors even said he was still alive. It didn’t matter to Kyvan. What mattered was that Kezi now ruled the state’s vampires and she was unlikely to cut him any slack for making a scene.

Goodbye Sweet Prince

Anton emerged into the crisp autumn night pleased with the venue he had secured for the Admiral’s Arms. Vampires always played a significant role in St. Petersburg’s International Early Music Festival though until they had come out of the closet a couple of decades ago few recognized it. Now musicians like Kyvan who not only remembered the tunes of bygone centuries but could actually play them on the instruments they were made for were in high demand.

Their venue this year was a rehabilitated warehouse in a neighborhood humans would call “sketchy”. He had picked the huge derelict space up for a song because the surrounding area had not yet been gentrified. He had no intentions of doing so. Still, these types of neighborhoods even more so than their poorer or wealthier cousins had provided vampires with sustenance and hiding places for centuries. In choosing this location using local labor for the rehab and planning on turning the space into a community run market after the Festival, Anton was, to his own mind just balancing the books. And maybe creating his own little sphere of influence within Kyvan’s larger circle. Luka would say it was a smart move.

Though the night was waning, Anton didn’t turn his steps toward home. He enjoyed walking the streets of their capital, watching vampires and shifters and even a few humans coming and going out their business or pleasure. Part of him still mused over their stories. How, for instance, did that whip thin were-fox end up here peddling her body on behalf of the Were lurking in the shadows? Did she even realize the male she was propositioning was neither a soldier nor drunk, although he was a vampire? When the male recognized Anton, he swiftly disengaged from the fox and beat a hasty retreat. Anton wasn’t sure why. Neither he nor Kyvan had any problem with vampires feeding from other species or doing anything else with them so long as they didn’t kill them. Anything that could potentially draw the attention of the humans or the authorities of any species was frowned upon but if all the youngster had been looking for was a snack or sex….

He didn’t finish the thought.

Without warning, a gang of half a dozen young vampires set upon Anton. He fought and might have managed to escape had the Were pimp not decided to step in with a multi-arrow crossbow. The bolts were made of steel and silver wrapped wood. One pull of the trigger dispatched two of the youths but also tore through Anton’s shoulder. It was enough to give the other vampires the advantage.

The report was unambiguous. A nest of young vampires were complaining about the Western influences in the Region. Saying Kyvan was undermining Russian culture with his music, his clothes and his American wife. It was more than ridiculous coming from a group who had smuggled Western goods into the country during the Soviet-era and still profited from international trade. Most of them couldn’t remember real Russian culture, just the Soviet state anyway. They had no idea what Russian culture was or how similar to the world Kyvan had been born into things were now, never mind how the lot of the vampires in his Region had improved to the point it was the envy of vampires around the world.

Kyvan rang for a blood. Perhaps he was just thirsty. That always shortened his patience. He ought to go hunting. It had been a while since he’d let his feral side out.

Kyvan stormed back up the stairs, leaving @SashaN__  alone in the silent dark of the cell. His progeny was not the main problem. Just the one most easily dealt with. Besides she didn't need to see what he was about to do. It might give her ideas.

Luka and Anton were talking in low voices in Anton's office. The note of triumph in Luka's voice adding fuel to Kyvan's rage. He didn't pause at the door, instead he walked into the room and very calmly smashed his fist into his Maker's face. Luka tumbled over the desk but came up in a fighting stance. Kyvan didn't give him time to set up, vaulting over the desk both booted feet connected with Luka and drove him back to the ground.  Standing on his Maker's chest, Kyvan glared down at the older vampire, adjusting his stance so that one foot crushed the other's throat, preventing him from speaking.

"I rule here," Kyvan growled. "Threaten my Progeny or my wife again and I will have you silvered and removed from the Region."

Luka tried to pierce Kyvan with a look of pure anger bordering on hatred. Kyvan smirked down at him, grinding his boot in before turning his attention to Anton.

"Sasha is to remain where she is until I say otherwise. See that she is given a bottle of blood once a day, preferably leave it by the door while she is dead for the day. She is to have no contact with anyone. Understood?"

"I'll have the servants take care of feeding her," Anton nodded, focusing his gaze on the papers scattered across his desk to conceal his satisfaction at seeing Luka humbled. "May I assume you want it delivered by a vampire, not someone she could make a meal of?"

"Yes," whatever else Kyvan may have said was lost as Luka grabbed the booted ankle above his throat and twisted.

Kyvan responded by hopping on his Maker, the heel of his other boot coming close enough to the older vampire's groin to make his eyes widen.

"This is not open to debate and I do not need help disciplining my Childe," Kyvan growled. "Further interference will not be tolerated."

Luka's eyes narrowed. It was the only warning Kyvan had that the fight was being joined in earnest. Fortunately, Luka's attempt to respond in kind to Kyvan's threat was thwarted by the length of the younger vampire's legs.

"A couple of nights won't teach her," Luka began, forcing the words past Kyvan's boot with difficulty.

Kyvan didn't wait to hear the rest. Pivoting on Luka's throat, he swung his other leg in a vicious kick that broke Luka's jaw, effectively ending any discussion. Then he stepped away, leaning against the desk and once more addressing Anton.

"See to it," he said, crossing his arms. "I am going out of town for a few nights. You are my Second, and I expect you to act like it, Anton. If all I needed was a social secretary, I would have hired a fae or someone from EEE. No one talks to her. She sees no one. Understood?"

Anton nodded, carefully not looking at Luka as he rose to his feet.

"You," Kyvan said, pointing a finger at Luka "need to get out of my house. Go hunt but do not leave the city. Don't come back until dawn and when use the service entrance when you return. Anton will have your things moved to that wing."

Luka's face was a a study in rage.

"You brought this on yourself, Luka," Kyvan said quietly. "I am what you have made me. Now it is your turn to pay the price. Just be glad I need a stalking horse for a while yet. Now get out."