Is it love: Peter Bartholy

Chapter 23 Part 2 - Peter Pov

Peter Pov.

 I barely closed the door to my room before the words were out of my mouth.

"Drogo? Why are you in my room?"

Drogo - "We are headed to Vlad's. Didn't Nicolai tell you?"

"Must have slipped his mind when he told Zeva about the Templars."

Drogo chuckled and threw a blood bag in my direction.

Drogo - "I'm guessing you told Nicolae the big news then?"

"Sort of. He gave Zeva a choice. Stay or leave."

Drogo - "Sort of? Did Zeva decide to leave?"

There was a teasing edge to Drogos words but I wasn't in the mood.

"She said she's staying but there was hesitation. She could still decide to sneak out."

I sighed, feeling the tension wash out into my face.

Drogo - "So she has some thinking to do, and we got work to do. Drink up, I'm driving."

I flickered my gaze to his and Drogo gave me a knowing look as I opened the bag and drank. I let the thick liquid coat my throat trying to focus on the taste, instead of the uneasiness I was feeling.

Vlad's was located on the outskirts of town in a bad part of town. The place looked like a dump to discourage outsiders from coming in but we knew what it was. A vampire bar. My spine stiffened, and I already wanted to leave but we headed in.

You could almost feel the tension as we entered and headed straight towards the bartable. Some dingy music spilled out of a spinet that was pushed up against a corner wall and the place reeked. A few red eyes looked up, their faces void of any emotions. Another small group of vampires, didn't even get up from their corner booth. They knew better than to interfere with us.

Drogo - "Graff Orlok you sewer rat! Come out! We need to talk."

Drogo barked out and you could hear the shuffling of steps from out back.

Orlok - "What filth dares call my name?"

Orlok hissed as he wobbled out into view. He had a sloping bald head and a severely twisted back. You could also see the discolorations in his fang-filled mouth from afar and his eyes were sunken in but still retained their vampiric redness. Hole had replaced his nose and one of his bat-like ears had been cut off completely. Most would say that vampires retain a certain charm after turning but such was not the case for his kind.

Orlok almost went three shades paler than his already translucent skin as his beady eyes ping ponged between Drogo and me. His head bent down as he took his disfigured clawed hand across his chest, all in a show of respect.

Orlok - "My sincerest apologies. It's an honor to serve you in my den. May I offer a drink?"

Drogo- "No. We are here for the hunters."

A couple of the patrons at the corner booth looked up and the music from the spinet butchered a note.

Orlok - "I assure you, I know nothing."

Orlok stuttered, and looked nervously around. Drogo lifted a brow not believing him. His kind were renown for their taste for secrets. You could say cryptophillia ran through this guy like music did me. He knew something. His kind always did.

"Don't lie. We wouldn't be here if that was the case."

I tisked, letting my eyes run over each of the guys sitting at the table. There was something off. They were obviously all vampires, but I didn't recognize any of them. That made me itchy. Slowly I walked over and came face to face with the one that was playing.

"Move. I'm playing."

Stranger - "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

Orlok - "Benny move your ass, or I will gut you myself. Do you know who you're talking to? If a Bartholy says you move, you move."

Orlok's voice cut through the silence and confusion clouded Bennys eyes. But then they grew wide as realization hit him.

Benny - "Bartholy?.. as in the Bartholy brothers that run this city?"

I flashed him a fanged smile, letting out some of my vampiric aura. Feeling it, Benny threw up his hands and instantly stepped aside.

Benny - "I'm sorry. I-I didn't know..."

"And now you do. Since you have no current use, I could use that drink."

This time Benny didn't wait a second before vaping himself past the bar and down the back door. Probably to make sure he got some of the higher quality stuff or to take the back exit. Not that I would care either way. As if a dump like this would have anything that would actually suit my taste, but I wasn't about to let him butcher another song in my presence. Orlok was just about to follow him when Drogo grabbed his arm and held him where he stood.

Drogo - "You stay. Giorgio says the Templars are in Mystery Spell for a purpose. So either he is lieing or you and your sewer rats are useless."

Spittle sprayed into the air as Orlok tried to compose himself enough to answer. Letting Drogo continue his interrogation, I turned my attention to playing on the worn out shinnet keys, making sure that they others did not interfere or hear anything they shouldn't.

Orlok - "Yess.... Templers.. there have been whispers that they are responsible for the recent attacks."

Drogo - "Tell us something we don't know. Like which stupid vampire lead them here? Was it one of yours?"

Orlok - "..N-no not mine. I swear it. But I have heard Rumors saying they are looking for someone...but not a vampire."

The next sentence out of Orlok's mouth had me seeing red. With one hand I picked up the shinnet and threw it across the room. Splintering it into a million pieces of wood and broken scrap metal.

I ignored the wide eyes of Orlok and the confused patrons snapping out of their trance. Shoving my hand through my hair, I caught Drogos eye and flicked my head towards the door before heading out.

Drogo - "Get the word out we want one.. alive, and preferably unspoiled."

Giving Orlok a last glance Drogo let go and followed me out as if nothing had just happened. We had just gotten to the drive in at the mansion, before Drogo finally spoke out.

Drogo - "Are you going to tell me what happened back there?"

"I heard what he said."

Drogo - "Yeah? He said the templars were chasing a medium, and you flipped as if they were going after..."

"You don't get it! She used a lust potion! She knew something! She knew and said NOTHING!"

I interrupted, letting my anger out. Drogo tried to reach out with his hand but stopped halfway and shoved them in his pockets instead.

Drogo - "You know, that explains a lot Peter. Lust potions are nasty business, they make you ignore reason. Making you feel and do things you otherwise wouldn't, all in order to cater to the will of the person wearing it. Those types of potions take awhile to fade, and the recoil"

"I know... withdrawal."

Taking a deep breath I looked up at the upstairs window. The light was off in her room, meaning Zeva most likely was sound asleep. Just knowing she was safe inside seemed to calm me somewhat. I wanted to go to her. See her. Hold her and breath in her scent. Feel the pulse of her heartbeat beneath my lips. Feeling my fangs elongate themselves of their own accord I looked back at Drogo.

"Could you keep an eye on Zeva for me? I need time to sort out some things."

Drogo - "Sure thing."