"He said you knew him."
I stared at the magic screen she was showing me. She said it led to a camera downstairs. I didn't know what a camera was, but imagined it was some kind of enchanting array.
Magic must have advanced a great deal.
In front of me, on her magic screen, a little man stood calmly in the lobby downstairs. As we watched, he lifted his head and aimed it towards us and gave us a smile and a wave.
I waved back.
"He can't see us," she told me. "At least, he's not supposed to…"
"He looks familiar," I said. "But I can't place his name. He knows I am here, though. That much is enough to let him pass. Bring him up. Is there somewhere I can greet him?"
"Well, that door there leads to your personal library. We have another on the level below, but we placed some books in there we thought you might like to read."
That was the best news I'd heard since waking!
I patted her on the head for that, causing her to blush brightly.
"Then I will be in my library. Send him through, Vela."
"Yes, Master!" She started to walk away, then stopped. "Umm, Master?"
"Hmm?"
"I should say some of the books…" She winced. "We weren't sure which ones you'd want to read, so we all put some of our favourite books in there. Some of them… Well…"
I nodded, suddenly suspicious of the contents of my new library.
I had a feeling it wasn't going to contain a deep collection of spellbooks devoted to the dark arts of sorcery or mystical tomes of forgotten alchemy.
"Ah," I said. "I will temper my expectations."
"We did try hard, though!"
"I'm sure you did."
"Also, the library below is much more extensive."
"Thank you, Vela."
The library room was small and welcoming. A small fireplace in the corner had been lit and its warmth pleased me. While one wall was glass and looked out at the city, shelves of books filled the others. Two plush seats sat by the fire.
It was an orderly place. Quiet.
I knew I would use it often.
At first glance, I couldn't tell what had worried Vela about the books contained within the small library. I passed by one section which was full of slim volumes which looked like multiple collections.
I had to cock my head to read the titles.
Blood Alone. Millenium Snow. Vampire Dormitory.
Midnight Secretary.
"Hmm."
Definitely no demonic manuals which might offer clues on how I might repair my Meridians.
Another section held thicker volumes with titles such as Twilight and Immortals After Dark.
I tugged a random novel off the shelf and grimaced at the cover, which showed a half-naked woman being embraced by a handsome vampire. My first thought was I would get Vela to burn them all.
But I opened the cover and found exactly what I had dreaded I would.
A little scrawl inside in pink ink.
I hope you love it as much as I did, Master. I can't wait to talk to you about my favourite parts! Love, Amelia Watts.
Sighing, I carried the book with me to one of the chairs by the fire and placed it on the little reading table. I had a hunch every book in the room had someone's name in it.
Vela entered after knocking, and offered a polite little curtsy which made me almost smile. So, she could be proper when there was a guest. That was a relief.
"Master," she said. "Your guest. He still wouldn't give his name."
The little man who entered looked to be around fifty years old. He was slim and dressed in a dark, but elegant suit. I had never seen its cut before. I made a mental note to have Vela look into getting something similar.
As he passed Vela without a glance, his intense gaze swept the room before landing on me.
Standing in front of me, he gave a small bow. "Count Dracula," he said. "It has been some time since we last spoke."
His voice ignited something in me.
A memory.
This man, playing a violin.
And the sound of my Brides laughing in the background.
My mouth twitched as his name managed to break through my surface thoughts.
"Count Saint Germaine," I greeted him, offering a bow of my head and motioning for him to sit as Vela left the room. "Forgive me for not rising. I have had something of a rude awakening."
"Ah," he said. "Freshly revived?"
"Yesterday."
"Then, I salute your good fortune," he said, making himself comfortable opposite me. He showed a passing interest in the books on the shelf before blinking at the one on my reading table. "I admit it's good to see you. There's very few immortals worth talking to. I have missed our chats. Although, I'm not sure how much we have in common now…"
"My… Servants have selected the library, Count," I said. "Perhaps not to my taste. I am told there's another. I expect it will be more useful."
"Servants?" He let out a chuckle. "Renfields, you mean? Charming ladies. I have followed their forums with great interest. You're quite a hero to them, you know."
I didn't, but I was beginning to feel the weight of their expectations.
He seemed to be expecting something from me. I wasn't sure what.
"You have me at a slight disadvantage," I said at last. "Since my new awakening, I find my memories are… elusive."
"Don't worry," he said. "I haven't come to take advantage of you. In truth, I expected it. Vampires who've endured a long Torpor tend to get a bit… addled. I expect spending so much time away would be something of a shock."
"I'm sure I will adapt."
"You always have before," he said warmly. "And then we can perhaps discuss business."
"Business?" I frowned. "Is there a debt?"
"It's not important," he said. "There's nothing owing between us as far as I'm aware. No, I was wanting to resume our arrangement regarding Bloodstones."
Bloodstones?
My mind conjured an image of a ruby-like stone. But nothing else.
Still, I found the word to be familiar. Like I had used it a lot.
There was something to it.
He caught my expression and looked disappointed. "You've forgotten how to make them?"
"Temporarily," I admitted. "The word… Means something, though. And there's a feeling… I will need to think about it."
"Here." He dug into his pocket and pulled out a pale stone. I caught it as he tossed it to me. It looked like a small round diamond crudely cut. "This one is spent. Maybe having one on hand will help you remember."
"Hmm." I put it on the table next to Amelia's chosen book. "I'll examine it later. If I can recall anything, I'll let you know."
"That's all I ask," he said. "Are you well? Do you need anything?"
"Not at the moment." I watched as his unblinking eyes drifted towards more books on the shelves. As though he was searching for something. "It's good of you to ask."
"Well, we're friends, aren't we?"
"Are we?"
"I thought we were."
"Then perhaps we are."
He laughed, a genuinely delighted laugh. "You see? I missed these chats. You're as guarded with me now as you are when we talk alchemy. Getting anything from you was always more difficult than fixing the volatile."
"My apologies," I said. "As I said, it's been a rather rude awakening. And I wasn't expecting visitors so soon."
"Well, in that way I'm very much like the Spanish Inquisition, I'm afraid."
"Hmm?"
"I'll let your Renfields explain that one to you," he chuckled. "Although, I hear they suffered some losses recently. Are you sure you don't need any help? I have a few people I could send over to assist in any way."
"I'll keep your offer in mind," I told him. "Again, it's very kind of you."
"Oh!" He dug into his jacket and pulled out a small book. Barely the size of his palm. Handing it to me, he smiled. "You entrusted this to me before you went to Berlin. That's the real reason I came tonight. I was very eager to return it. It's not the sort of thing I like having in my possession. Not with the world the way it is."
I opened the book and felt a jolt go down my spine.
Instinctively, I knew this was my writing.
However…
"It's gibberish."
"Code," he said. "I don't know what it is. You're a very cunning man, Count. And a cruel one. That book nearly drove me insane. I tried to break it a few times over the years. Out of curiosity, mind you. But it always eluded me. I hope one day you'll trust me enough to tell me what I was guarding."
Scratching my jaw, I placed the coded book beside Amelia's and the stone.
"Thank you," I said. "I'm not sure why I gave it to you, but I must have had a reason."
"You're welcome, of course," he said. "I'm glad it's back with its owner. Having any of your possessions is potentially dangerous. If the Renfields don't try stealing it, your Brides would kill for it."
"Yes," I said, looking out through the window at the lights of the city. "My Brides."
Count Saint Germaine sighed. "I told you at the time, old friend. You were asking for trouble. Only a fool would get married. And only a bigger fool would marry more than one!"