Hunters

Chapter 20.

The basement room was large enough to comfortably hold fifty people.

Tonight it was packed with twice that many.

The air was hazey from the harsh, bitter smelling cigarette smoke and  the raucous shouts of the paying

customers seated around the makeshift ring in the center of the room hurt the ears.

Inside the  ring , two beefy men in outrageous costumes pummeled each other.

Blood and sweat was flying as the wrestlers struggled against each other like wild ....beasts.

Their animal like grunts of pain   intermingled with the curses from the spectators.

Stefan was standing in a shadowy corner unimpressed with the action .

He was dressed in casual black jeans and a chunky brown fishermen's sweater as an attempt to blend in with the working man's crowd.

A matching wool cap was pulled low over the bridge of his nose effectively hiding his thick blond brows.

His steel colored eyes were fixated on the only woman in the room.

She was seated next to Jeff and staring straight ahead with a glazed expression.

Whenever the action in the ring heated up a small grimace of distaste

would flicker across her attractive face and once she shuddered when

blood splattered the floor at her feet.

A thin smile curled Stefan's lips as if he were amused by her reactions to the violence right in front of her face.

Finally the match ended and Stefan made his way toward Jeff and his "prophetess".

She glanced up as if anticipating his arrival although Jeff was suprised to see him.

"Why hello there comrade Vasiliev." The American was being overly jovial.

Stefan noticed the proprietary manner in which Jeff was holding the

woman's arm and guessed that they were more than business partners.

Not that it mattered for what he had in mind.

The woman was wearing a modern sarafan and a plain black wool coat with a high collar.

Ruby pendants dangled from her  shell shaped ears.

Roma, Stefan realized upon recognizing the shape and structure of her face.

Yes...she was definitely  of the Ruska Romas (Russian Gypsy ) Stefan concluded.

A thin, gold bracelet in the shape of a serpent with a ruby for an eye seemed to be climbing up her right wrist.

It was the only "pagan" piece of jewelry in evidence on her body.

Stefan's senses sharpened with amazement as he clearly felt the cold

brush of her powers stroke his right cheek .

Their eyes locked and amusement simmered in her deep, black stare before she lowered her thick lashes .

"Please join us at my hotel for a celebratory drink ."

Jeff said once David had joined them .
He lead the way outside where a gray car waited.

David sat up front with the driver while Stefan was seated on one side  of the American with the woman between them .