What is Neculai?

“Vulcan, why is killing Neculai so important to you?” Kayen asked as he moved around to an empty chair at the business table they all sat at. Ten faces turned to look at Vulcan who sat at the head of the table. Vulcan’s head was tilted to the side as he observed his fellow Embassy members. He shifted his eyes towards Quintus. Quintus, who they all referred to as Quin smiled an eyebrow cocked up in amusement.

“So, you are giving me permission then?” He asked Vulcan. The leader of their group looked at everyone who watched them both closely. He closed his eyes and took one finger with a long nail extended and scratched in between his eyes. Then opening his eyes once again he nodded to Quintus to go on.

“Well if you insist.” Quintus laughed as touched the tips of his fingers together as he settled back in what he could only describe as a gaming chair before he began his tale.

“Everyone may not know, but at one point Neculai and I were good friends. We set a blaze in cities. We would participate in all types of debauchery. We would feed, drink and feed again, all night long. It was the best time of my life. Neculai is really fun to be around at times like that.” Several of the Order members huffed while Iovita stared at Quin's admission coldly before adding.

“You were always without principles Quintus. This is nothing new from you and I am not surprised you would spend time with Neculai of all vampires.” She stated in disgust. Quintus rolled his eyes before grinning.

“Och, Iovita. You have no filter.” He said, throwing her a kiss. Iovita raised a hand and made a small fist as she squeezed. Quintus was all smiles, then his smile dropped and he grabbed his chest gasping for air, his eyes shocked and on Iovita. Vulcan slammed a hand down on the table vibrating the whole thing.

“Enough!” He shouted. “Iovita let him finish.” He stated.

“Quintus, go on.” he set back and waited. Quintus rubbed his chest and cast daggers at Iovita before settling back in his chair.

“We had two friends who would hang out with us. Maximus and Jolen. I don’t know if any of you remember them?” Quintus asked and looked around at the group.

“I remember them,” Sarafina stated. “I haven’t seen either one of them in over twenty years. Where are they?” She asked. Quintus continued.

“They are both dead, no thanks to Neculai.” He stated. He could hear the gasp escape from Sarafina as she realized why they had not been around.

“They were both such silly young vampires. They were always out to have a good time. They never harmed anyone though.” She stated a hand held to her chest.

“Yes, I know and they were the perfect running buddies for Neculai and myself. We all had such a fantastic time. You can not imagine it. ” He was quiet for a moment as he gaze at each of them, before continuing.

“We had such fun until one night when we were out corralling about. We had some ladies with us, who was down with us feeding on them as long as we showed them a good time if you know what I mean.” He stated wiggling his eyebrows at the group.

“Unfortunately we do know what you mean,” Iovita stated as she looked across at Sarafina. Sarafina frowned in disgust and shook her long braids back out of her face.

“Well, we had parked Neculai’s black escalade at a park in what I assumed was a secluded location. You know for privacy and all. We didn’t want to break any of Vulcan’s rules.” He said casting a sideway glance at a silent Vulcan.

“Neculai wanted to stand outside the vehicle and feed,” Qunitus stated.

“Yes, he was always a little reckless,” Aasir chimed in, with a hand propped on the table, fingers drumming their own beat.

“Well the rest of us didn’t want to be seen and so we remained in the vehicle, that is until Jolen hopped out of the vehicle pissed. I couldn’t tell at first what was going on until I got out of the escalade myself. Neculai had been stabbed through his back so far that the tip came out through the front of his chest. Jolen, the good one of us, had jumped out of the vehicle to help Neculai when that same person who stabbed Neculai turned to him and began to attack.” Everyone was quiet. Some in the room leaned forward in their seats to hear.

“The thing is the attacker looked mortal, yet he easily overpowered Jolen. Jolen was struggling to get the upper hand. Maximus exited the vehicle and attempt to go around and help Neculai and Jolen. However, another of these beings jumped out at him and killed him instantly. I know we were outmatched, so I eased back into the bushes to watch.” He said looking off into the distance, clearly not seeing anyone.

“Maximus was killed instantly, his heart pulled through his chest. Jolen still struggled with his attacker. Neculai in the meantime was pulling the stake out of his chest from the front.” A gasp from several people filled the silence in the room.

“What do you mean?!” Kayen asked.

“How can that be?” Marcus put in for the first time that night.

“Are you sure you saw the stake hit his heart?” Came another reply. Quintus looked around at all the interested and curious faces.

“Yes, he literally gripped the tip of the stake with his fingers and pulled it out the front of his chest, right where his heart would be.” Everyone in the room looked concerned except Safari who looked bored.

“Can you be sure of what you saw, I mean did it really stab his heart?” Iovita asked with caution. Quintus rolled his eyes.

“I’ve been a vampire for over a century and I’ve seen many vampires die by stakes-Neculai was staked-yet didn’t die. He just pulled the darn thing out and looks down at the wound as it heals.”

He stated before settling back in his own chair once more. Quintus looked around at the faces around him. Sarafina set regal in her chair, she didn’t show a sign of concern or interest in the subject. Kayen and Aasir gave each other a brief look before turning back to Quintus. The others set in quiet communication. When Quintus looked over at Vulcan. He had a small smile on his face. He watched the group before looking back at Quintus, a cool expression on his face.

“Finish it, Quin.” He stated. The others turned back to him with more interest than before.

“Jolen is still struggling with his attacker, but it looked like he could see that Neculai was ok, and he called to him to help him defeat the attacker. Neculai turns, looks at Jolen, and shakes his head no. He walked away and never looked back. He just leaves his car there. At that moment the man who killed Maximus had snuck up behind me and I had to fight to escape myself.” Quintus finishes off.

“Is that it, Quin?” Iovita asked as she shared a look with Sarafina.

“One last thing, I got one look at the shock on Jolens face just before he was killed. Neculai was long gone by the time I killed my attacker.” He stated.

“So, you don’t believe these men are mortals?” Safari asked.

“They were as strong as any vampire, so no I don’t believe they are mortals.” He paused before continuing.

“Another thing, I don’t believe Neculai is what he seems either. At least not fully a vampire. He appears to be something else altogether.” He said quietly. Then added.

“What vampire can survive a staking?” Quintus stared at Vulcan who only frowned…

Deja

“Where are we going?” She asked as he drove out of the undercover garage. Deja was holding the leather black pouch that contained the dagger. The pouch was heavy and she was sure she could feel the power emanating from the dagger. She placed the pouch in the tray holder in between their seats.

They drove out of the city and to a smaller town. The town had small red brick houses and small front yards. The lawns were well manicured with one or two shade trees in each front yard. Deja looked over at Neculai as he drove. He was not focused on what she asked as his mind seemed to be on other things. This gave her a chance to really see him for the first time. She could see that he gave the appearance of a playboy. He acted like he doesn't care about others and came off as inconsiderate. Is he the good guy from her story, the hero she made him out to be in her mind as the young woman she was when she first met him? His fingers drummed on the wheel as the music blared out of the radio. A classic Linkin Park hit.

The wind hit her face cooling her off as they drove. They've been driving for most of the night and day. It was evening and the sun had just set. All the running and fear of being caught had her adrenalin going for a while there, but now she was finally able to relax a little. She turned to him at that moment.

“You're a Linkin Park fan?” He didn’t seem to have heard her. She looked off. She didn't expect him to say anything when he finally responded.

“I like a lot of music. Music can give you a soul, especially if you don’t have one.” He replied, his baritone blended oddly with the voice of Chester Bennington. She knew he wasn’t speaking of “being down with the brothers” type of soul. He looked over at her. There was an intensity to his green-eyed focused stare.

“What?” She asked suddenly feeling self-conscious. He shook his head and looked away.

“Don’t you think you have a soul?” She asked more to fill in the silence than any other reason.

“I am a vampire, as far as I can tell vampires have lost their souls. We are the soulless creatures whom God has turned his back on. There is no redemption for me. I can not be saved, so do I have a soul...no I don’t.” He stated before changing the music with the push of his finger on the steering wheel. Now some more modern hip-hop blared out on the radio. She continued to stare at him.

“You are starring.” He said, without looking at her, as they came to a stop at a light.

“How did you become a vampire? When were you created? Do you have any family members who still exist or descendants who still exist?” She asked a volley of questions.

“So now here it comes.” He grimaced, the light turned back to green and they pulled off. “How is it that you are a psychic and yet you can’t answer some of these questions yourself?” He cast a sideways look at her. She smiled and shrugged.

“My gift is tiring the more I use it and depending on how deep I go when looking into the future or the past, it usually leaves me drained. So, it’s easier to ask the questions I want to know, if it will save me my strength to fight another day as the saying goes.” She replied with a slight chuckle. She decided to change the subject.

“So, when did you become a vampire?” He once again sighed.

“Wow, this is really “the suburban life”. Who lives here?” She asked

“I do.” He stated and led the way toward the front door. She looked back one last time at the car still parked in the driveway, a frown settling between her brows.

“You’re going to just leave the car there, anyone can see it if they come looking for you or me.” She stated in an exasperated tone a finger pointing at herself as she stood stock still staring in disbelief at Neculai. He turned around once and glanced over at the car and then at the neighborhood before adding.

“We won’t be here long, besides no one knows of this place and this neighborhood is not what you think it is. No one will find us.” He said before turning and heading on towards the house.

Deja followed Neculai slowly up the front porch of the house. They were immediately stopped by a woman who opened the front door and greeted them at the entrance.

“Hello, Ms. Reynolds. How is everything going?” He asked casually. Neculai spoke softly as if he genuinely cared to know how the woman was doing. The woman was middle age but appeared in shape. She looked like a woman who loved to power walk or jog throughout the neighborhood. She did have a kind smile as she welcome Neculai home.

“You naughty boy, you have been away so long this time that I wonder if anything had happened to you? You should have texted me or better yet just called.” She exclaimed throwing her arms wide open to welcome him into a hug. She turned from him and observed Deja standing next to Neculai. Her smile dropped and her look turned almost hostile as she watched the younger woman. So, Deja decided to take charge since Neculai greeted the woman and then walked off past Ms. Reynolds without introducing the two women.

“Hello, I’m Deja, Neculai’s friend.” Deja explained stopping herself from grinding her teeth together before adding “Neculai’s friend”. The woman looked over Deja once from head to toe and ignored the hand she had outstretched in greeting. Still, Ms. Reynolds didn’t say anything. She couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her as she dropped her hand that was outstretched in greeting back to her side.

“And you're Ms. Reynolds, I heard Neculai say,” Deja said with a smile in the awkward silence in the hopes of starting some kind of dialogue since she wasn’t sure the old barracuda would allow her past without a fight. Before the woman could respond Neculai appeared.

“Ms. Reynolds, good you met Deja. Now that you two know each other, I need your time for a moment.” He expressed to the woman, before turning and walking back off. Obviously, he didn’t realize that she had just had a standoff with this woman, so Deja was a little put out by his indifference. The woman whipped around at Neculai’s voice.

“Of course, you do, where were my manners? I must see too my boy. I’m sure you haven’t fed in a while have you?” She asked concern washing over her face. With that, she was gone allowing Deja to follow them inside.

Deja walked down the hallway through to the living room area past the kitchen. Pictures covered the walls. Pictures of the woman in different scenes, working out, hanging out with friends at the park. Celebrations at upscale restaurants. Some pictures were of a gold and white cat.

She posed for several pictures with the cat and several pictures were taken of the cat by itself. Deja turned around and found Neculai feeding on the woman's wrist. She stood still, she was not shocked to know he did feed, but to see him in action, with the woman's wrist raised to his lips and the suckling seeming soft, even gentle was surprising. They had spoken of him being a vampire, and the party last night was full of vampires, yet for some reason, Neculai still caught her off guard. She almost forgot he was a vampire and he must feed.

Ms. Reynolds was quietly stroking his dark hair with her free hand as he fed on her wrist. She was whispering something to him that Deja could not make out, but just then the woman turned another hostile glance her way and She knew then that she was the topic of conversation and it probably wasn’t flattering. When Neculai finished he sent Ms. Reynolds off...