maderr | to do at work

331: Stolen Hearts

The stranger appeared suddenly, abruptly, as smooth and quiet as Chris generally was when dropping back into visibility. Unfazed, long used to Chris, Sable and Doug regarded their unexpected visitor. “Lord Brennus,” he said with a nod of greeting. His voice was smooth, deep, not a trace of any accent. He was older, mid-forties in appearance though his real age was no doubt upwards of seven hundred or more. Beautiful, for of course they always were. Beauty was their greatest tool and this one had honed that tool to a fine edge. His dove-gray hair was neatly trimmed, close and soft around his head. Dark green eyes watched them, seemingly relaxed but as sharp as a hawk. He wore a white shirt and soft-grey vest, his jacket slightly darker, the silver gleam of a watch chain just visible. His tie was dark blue and he wore soft-looking kid skin gloves.

“Dracula DeLovely,” Sable said in reply, setting down his glass. “An unexpected pleasure.”

The vampire lord nodded again. “I wish I could say the feeling is mutual, but I’m afraid my motives are somewhat the opposite.”

Sable frowned and motioned to the remaining seat at his table. They were downstairs in his private dining room sharing breakfast while Douglas related their most recent cases, as Chris was always somewhat reticent, ever mistrustful of Sable’s penchant for interfering in his cases by any means possible. “Have a seat, please. What is the problem?”

“I would prefer to stand for now. But I thank you.” DeLovely visibly relaxed, but it was obvious he was still quite tense about something. “I have heard you consort is something of a skilled detective for our circle of the world. I was wondering if I might enlist his services. I will gladly pay whatever fee, and of course I would be in your debt.”

Sable looked regretful. “If Christian were here, he would gladly help you. Alas he is away on business for me and will not be able to return for a few days yet.”

“Of course,” DeLovely said, shoulders sagging slightly despite his efforts to remain stoic.

“However,” Sable continued. “Douglas here is his assistant and protégé. Christian trusts him implicitly; indeed has said that he would trust Douglas to solve his own murder or hunt down his kidnappers, whichever came first.” Sable’s lips quirked as he recalled the conversation.

Douglas smothered a happy smile, striving to look professional in front of the Dracula DeLovely. “I would be happy to help, my lord.”

“I would gladly accept your help,” the vampire said in obvious relief. “The problem is that last night someone stole my wife’s heart, and since that attack my son has been missing. He is nowhere on the premises or our surrounding territory. I know only that he’s left it. Beyond that, I have no idea where he is. I can handle the matter of my wife’s heart – I need you to find my son before someone else does.”

Sable let out a faint hiss of dismay. “The Alucard DeLovely is missing? Do the werewolves know?”

“Not yet,” DeLovely said tightly. “I do not think he would wander into Howler’s territory. I would hazard he is somewhere in your domain; that is why I thought to ask for your assistance.”

Douglas pulled out his small notebook and a blue pen. “Start at the beginning please,” he said, falling easily into the rhythms of his job. “Tell me everything that occurred, from the beginning to the end.” He looked up, expression intent, a strange sight in the young, boyish face he favored when he assumed a human form. “Leave out no detail, no matter how irrelevant it might seem to you.”

“If this is the student,” DeLovely murmured, eyeing Douglas then turning to Sable. “Then I would dearly love to meet the master.”

Sable smiled, pleased. “They are both quite good at what they do. I believe I will the two of you to the investigation and see how my own detective is faring. Perhaps when the matter in concluded we can all have supper together.”

“I will look forward to it.”

Sable departed, leaving Douglas alone with the vampire lord. “Have a seat, please. It will be easier to talk that way.”

“You are not human,” DeLovely said idly, almost as an afterthought. “You’re able to shape shift, which limits what species you could be, but I cannot tell which of those you are.”

Douglas nodded. “I’m not human,” he agreed. “Now if you don’t mind – start at the beginning and tell me everything.”

“Very well,” DeLovely conceded. “I suspect it all stems with the argument my wife has been attempting to have with our son for some time.”

“…An argument she’s been attempting to have?” Doug repeated, puzzled.

DeLovely smiled. “Perhaps I should start elsewhere. My son is three hundred years old; quite young for a vampire. He’s always been an obedient boy. Never a lick of trouble at all. Quiet, polite; I’ve received so many compliments on his decorum and demeanor that I could not count them if I tried.” He sighed. “He’s never protested or fought anything. He would do anything I asked and more besides.” DeLovely rubbed his eyes, as if weary. “It has long troubled my wife and I. Though we of course think it wonderful to have such a son, we worry for him. It is not normal for a boy to be so unprotesting, so content and calm. We fear that he will wind up severely unhappy later in life, or shatter.”

“A couple of years ago a Dracula several territories over proposed marriage between my son and his daughter. Rosette, his daughter, is wonderful and sweet. When I posed the idea to my son, he instantly agreed – with all the fervor and interest one shows in choosing what shirt to wear. This upset me, but he did not seem exactly unhappy. I stipulated they should be engaged for a few decades and assumed matters would work themselves out.”

He sighed. “My wife was not so complacent. She is ever trying to spur our son into some contrary action; to make him realize that he is not as happy as he appears. My son merely brushes her aside, insisting he is happy – and certainly there is no overt evidence to the contrary. The marriage especially upsets her. She is a romantic and hates that there is no romance at all between them.” He smiled faintly. “Even I admit that the two seem more like brother and sister than betrothed.”

“Anyway – I believe last night she finally broke him. I heard them both shouting, and my room is some distance from the salon where I heard them arguing. But as I was about to go and investigate, the shouting stopped. I went back to work, assuming one or the other would find me if they felt the need. They are both given towards solitude. An hour or so later I heard the shouting resume, then again a dead silence. I thought nothing of it until my clock chimed midnight and I realized my wife had never come up to bed.” He winced. “My own failing is that I get so wrapped up in work I do not pay as much attention as I ought to things. If I had been more alert, I might have prevented what occurred.”

Douglas’ pen flew across his paper and he nodded and muttered to himself, jotting notes alongside DeLovely’s recounting. “Continue, please.”

DeLovely nodded. “When I entered the salon, I saw my wife lying on the floor covered in blood. Her dress had born torn apart and her heart ripped from her chest. I have her stabilized, as it takes far more than that to kill a vampire, but if I do not retrieve it soon…”

“But you said you needed no help locating the heart?” Douglas asked.

“No,” DeLovely said firmly. “I can sense it is somewhere in my manor. I will locate it easily enough. But my son has vanished. I went to his room to find him but it was empty. A search of the house, later a more thorough spell search, revealed that he was gone. Nor is he in my territory, as I could find him if he were. I do not know if he is guilty or not; nor do I particularly care. I simply want him back. He has never wandered off like this before and I worry what will happen is the wrong people were to realize his identity.”

“I’ll find him,” Douglas said. “But a name and picture might help. As would knowing all his interests, hobbies, favorite foods, anything of that nature.” He grinned suddenly. “Though I guess favorite foods should be replaced by favorite kinds of human?”

DeLovely laughed. “My son’s name is Zachariah; usually he just goes by Zach. He fed recently so I doubt you will find him that way. And he is actually rather fond of sweets – we need blood to live of course, but it is not the only thing we consume. Chocolate especially has always been one of his weaknesses. He likes music of almost any sort but mostly classical. He hates noisy places but is fond of watching people. At parties he often sneaks away to hide and watch, rather than actively participate.”

“That will help a great deal,” Douglas said, smiling approvingly. “Do you have a photo? Some sort of picture?”

DeLovely nodded. “My future daughter-in-law is quite fond of taking pictures.” From inside his vest he pulled out a small photo and handed it to Douglas.

Douglas stared at the photo in silence for a few moments. “He is remarkable.”

“Thank you,” DeLovely smiled with pride. “I like to think that even in a race that relies on beauty for survival, my son stands out in a crowd.”

“I’ve no doubt he does,” Douglas said and pocketed the picture. “Have you any idea what sort of place he might have run off to? A type of restaurant? A friend’s house? Anything of that nature?”

DeLovely nodded, obviously upset that he could not provide more help. “I wish I knew. But he seldom left the house and then usually with my wife and myself or with Rosette. And she could not tell you more than I have.”

“Well, if you think of anything else let me know? I will find him as quickly as I possibly can.”

“I thank you,” DeLovely rose and gave a brief, elegant bow. “If you need me, simply contact me.” He touched gloved fingertips to Douglas’ forehead, and Douglas could feel the minor spell thrum through his mind. With another bow, the vampire lord was gone.

Doug slouched back in his seat, allowing his anxiety to show. “Jeez, why did I have to get a missing Alucard as my first real solo case?” He stood, then took a deep breath. And another. “All right, first thing’s first.” Grabbing his coat and scarf, he vanished.

The water was cold where it lapped at his feet, even through his thick gray skin. Doug grimaced, then held his fingers to his lips and whistled loudly. The piercing sound carried across the calm water, breaking the still silence that always lingered at this largely uninhabited section of the river. He moved away from the water’s edge and waited.

Several minutes later, two women began to walk out of it. They walked hand in hand, water making their clothes and long, white-blond hair cling to their slender, shapely frames. But even with the small, sharp fangs that were visible their smiles were pleasant, green eyes alight with genuine pleasure at seeing who was waiting for them. They raced to embrace him, greetings lost amongst their happy laughter. “Doug! We haven’t see you two in ages!”

“Speaking of which, where is Chris?” the river nymph on his right looked around.

“He’s not here, tonight. Just me. How’ve you been, Splish? Splash?”

“We’ve been great,” Splish answered, still holding onto Doug’s left arm. “What’s wrong?”

“Always so straight forward,” Doug said with a smile. “Heard of any new beauties in town?”

Splash looked curious. “Vamps you mean? Not recently. When did he arrive?”

“Probably just today,” Doug said. “So I guess you wouldn’t have heard about him yet. But would you let me know when you do? You’re my best lead at the moment.”

The nymphs kissed his cheeks. “Of course. But only if you promise to come visit sometime, ‘kay? It’s no fun you always come just for business.”

“I’m sorry,” Doug said sheepishly. “We’ll come visit this weekend, all right?”

“All right!” The twins exclaimed together and with a parting kiss dived back into the water.

Shifting back into his human shape, Douglas left to do some searching of his own until the river nymphs turned up something.

Two hours later the twins found him in a coffee bar, walking arm and arm, perfectly content to be damp on the chilly autumn night. He greeted them with a smile and kissed their damp cheeks. “You look like kittens that caught a canary. Or maybe fish that got the cat wet.”

Splish laughed. “Your beauty is causing quite a stir, Doug. Rumors are already flying about him. Some say he’s an Alucard, even. How silly is that?”

“Very silly,” Doug said, lips twitching. “How do you find these things out so fast?”

Splash shrugged. “Wasn’t hard, really. Humans always notice vampires, and they’re easy to get info from if you’re a soaking wet, half-naked woman.”

"Where might I find him?"

"That french place on Plum and Green."

Doug winced. "That figures."

Splish and Splash laughed. "So what's our reward for helping out the great slueths?"

"What do you want?" Doug asked with a grin.

"Oh, if it's going to be like that..." Splish winked.

Her sister winked as well, linking arms with Splish as they prepared to leave. "We'll think of something and let you know tomorrow."

"I'm in trouble." Doug walked them out, then turned right as they turned left. "Try not to cause me too much trouble, ladies." He grinned as they walked away laughing.

His humor faded as the job at hand reasserted itself in his mind. A few minutes was all it took to walk the five blocks to the corner of Plum and Green streets, and the small, simple but stylish restaurant that Douglas and Chris had avoided like the plague ever a hunt for a dogai got out of hand.

"Figures he'd manage to miss this..." Douglas grumbled softly, entering the restuarant with no small trepidation. He accepted the glare of the host with good grace, and steeled himself for a fight. "I'm looking for someone."

"How nice for you," the host replied frostily. "You can look from here."

"You're being ridiculous," Doug said with a withering glare of his own. "Let me find him, talk to him, and I'll be gone. I'm only looking for a vampire, there won't be any trouble."

The host blinked. "That nice boy at table twelve? He's got nothing to do with your sort of trouble. Leave him alone."

"My sort of trouble?" Doug frowned. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Mouthy imp."

"Wannabe human."

"Get out."

Doug dropped his voice to a barely-audible whisper. "After I get the Alucard I was hired to find before the werewolves do."

Whatver the host had readied as a retort died on his lips. He looked at Doug in disbelief. "You're going to bring werewolves in here? Don't you dare!"

"He will, if I don't get him out of here. It's only a matter of time before they find out."

"Get him and go. You have five minutes."

"Fifteen."

"Ten," the host said with finalty, and pointed in the general direction of table twelve before busying himself with tidying the front of the restaurant.

Barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Douglas went where he'd been directed. The picture he'd been given was in his pocket, but he wouldn't need it. His eyes flit around the room, making note of everything he saw while he looked. An interesting mix of paranormals. He spared the goblin in the corner a second glance, not liking the way she was picking at her food while watching the room. She caught his eye and looked swiftly away. Doug hid a frown and cast his eyes elsewhere.

How he hadn't seen him right away, Doug didn't know. He should have. The Alucard DeLovely was far more beautiful than his picture. More than a few in the restuarant were sneaking glances; Dougals almost felt sorry for the humans that didn't realize the quiet-looking vampire had only to nudge and he could have any one of them.

He was the image of his father, a tall, slender, aristocratic beauty. The only differences were age, for Zach did not look more than mid to late twenties, and Zach's hair was black, long and straight. The sort of black that almost looked blue in the right light. Eyes looked up from a cup of tea as Douglas approached, dark green and clearly troubled. "You're here for me," the Alucard said calmly.

Douglas nodded. "Your father hired me to find you and take you home."

"I'm not going home. Not yet."

"May I sit?" Douglas asked politely.

Zach looked chagrined. "Of course, I'm sorry. Please, sit. Who are you?"

"Now it's my turn to apologize," Doug said with a grin as he sat. He held out his hand. "My name is Douglas, I'm a detective with the White Detective Agency."

"I've heard of that!" Zach smiled eagerly.

Doug blinked, dazzled.

Zach continued. "Isn't that the one run by Lord Brennus' consort? I overhear stories all the time, though I'm sure some of them are made up."

"No doubt," Douglas replied. "No offense, Alucard, but you're awfully trusting. What if I'd been working for werewolves?"

Reaching out unexpectedly, Zach touched the tips of his fingers to Douglas' forehead. "I could sense my father's sigil. And Zach is fine, please."

Douglas grinned sheepishly. "I forgot he'd done that." Clearly Zach was affecting him more than he liked, if he was behaving like he'd only started detective work yesterday. He resisted the urge to touch his own forehead, which felt warm where Zach had touched it. "So tell me what happened. Why don't you want to return home?"

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