Bleeding Heart

Kert took them all home that evening. Victoria sobered up enough to remember that she had sent an urgent message to her and Daphne’s children. She was now hoping they wouldn’t come.

Early Sunday morning, Victoria’s phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Hello, mom? It’s me, ZZ, Azzurra, your daughter.”

“Azzurra?!”

“Don’t sound so surprised, mom, you were the one that contacted me and said you needed to see me, to see all of us.”

“Yes, I did, I did do that. I was thinking maybe you shouldn’t come.”

“Don’t tell me that! Anyway, it’s too late, we’re already here. We’re at PDX getting our luggage. I’ve got your address, so we’ll see you as soon as we’re all loaded into the rental car and make a couple of stops.”

“You said ‘we’… who’s with you?”

“The whole fam damily, me, Rosie, Baldo, Stewie and Laura.”

“Well… okay. I guess I see you soon then.”

When she hung up, she immediately phoned Daphne.

“Daph, how are you feeling this morning?”

“Surprisingly good! Even after all of wine and weed. What’s up?”

“How much do you remember of last night?”

“Why? What do you mean?”

“The most important details are Ben is our uncle, who is indeed a vampire and so is our father. And Ben is talking about some crazy take-over of Bleeding Heart. And…Daph, our kids are here.”

“Our kids are here?”

“Yeah, I contacted Azzurra after I had my blood tested to be a donor for Cosi. Something strange came up in the results and I wanted to get the kids tested to see if the same thing was in their blood.”

“What was strange about it?”

“There’s an extra chromosome, instead of 23 pairs, I have 24.”

“Isn’t that like, Down Syndrome?”

“No, in Down Syndrome there is a third copy of chromosome 21, I have a completely new pair of a 24th.”

“Do you think I have the same thing?”

“My guess is yes, you do. I’d like to find out if the kids have it, too.”

“Well, then it’s good that they’re coming, we can all be tested. I’d sure like to see them, anyhow.”

“Yes and no. I’m concerned about Ben’s plan, he may try to use them.”

Daphne got dressed and joined Victoria to greet the kids. Their chests pounding and palms sweating as a black Ford Explorer pulled into the driveway. As they went out to meet them, they couldn’t help but notice how tall their girls had gotten and how much they towered over their brothers. And a sixth person got out of the car, a tall, older, distinguished looking man wearing a black fedora and cape.

Azzurra took off her sun glasses as she approached them; long, curly blue-black hair like her mother’s. Her eyes were dark green, nearly black, like her grandfather, Bela’s. After the hugs and niceties, Victoria asked who the gentleman was.

“Oh, this is my current husband, Damiano’s uncle, Basilio, Basilio Capello. He doesn’t speak much English, but he speaks volumes with his eyes.”

“Current husband?”

“Yes, mom, my third. You’ll like Basilio; he’s never been to America so I invited him along. He wears a bit too much Paco Rabanne but he thinks it makes him more appealing to the ladies.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have room for everyone to stay here.”

“No worries, mom, we’re staying in Portland at this cool hotel called Strigoi’s Dank Shadoz; very atmospheric. Baldo doesn’t care for it much, do you Baldo.”

“The place gives me the creeps; we’re like the only guests in the whole place. Stew doesn’t like it much either, do you Stew.”

Stewart nodded, yes.

“Not quite, there are a few occupied rooms.”

“The elevator only allows you to go to the 5th and 6th floors. The panel in the car doesn’t even list floors 2, 3 or 4.”

“Didn’t they say something about having some private residents?”

“Yeah, but how do they get to their floors?”

“Maybe they have a private lift.”

Baldo muttered under his breath, “An answer for everything.”

After all the hugs and hello kisses, Victoria invited everyone inside. She had a pot of Jasmin tea on her cart ready for her guests.

“The first floor of the hotel is a club, I remember how much you and Aunt Daphne used to love to dance. We should all put on our dancing shoes and go to the club.”

“That does sound like fun, Vic!”

“I can see ZZ and my sister are excited about a night of fun but there is a specific reason I asked you all to come.” Just as the words left her, she noticed Uncle Basilio looking right at her, hat pulled down so his eyes barely showed, hands folded across his abdomen.

“Um…maybe I should speak to just the kids about this.”

“Oh, don’t mind Uncle Basilio, his English isn’t that great.”

“Okay… As I mentioned, your fathers are in a nursing facility and they don’t seem to be fairing too well. It was suggested that Daphne and I donate our blood to see if they would show some signs of improvement. In the process, I had my blood tested and something odd came up, I have an additional pair of chromosomes; 24 instead of 23. It was also odd that I’ve never had any childhood diseases; looking back, I never had to take any of you girls to a doctor; not even for broken bones.”

“We’ve all been vaccinated, I’m sure you and Aunt Daphne have had your vaccination shots. Maybe we dodged that bullet.”

“Rosie, do you even remember having the common cold? I don’t, I know I’ve never had a cold or a virus of any kind.”

“Maybe we do have that extra pair of chromosomes and chromosome pair number 24 has kept us healthy!”

“But Rosie, why would you? Why would I? Why would any of us?”

An awkward silence fell over them.

Uncle Basilio broke the uncomfortable quiet. “Mi scusi, per favore, I understand a little bit. How about your sons?”

“Our sons?”

“You talk about your daughters, I no hear talk about your sons.”

“They were never sick either… except for some bouts with stomach problems… and anemia… they needed glasses, still wear them…”

“Stewie couldn’t take a lot of sunlight and he’s had migraines most of his life.”

“Then it sounds like more reason that all the kids should be tested. I’ll make arrangement with Giselle.”

Giselle primed Dr. Le Fleur with a story about it being Head Nurse Appreciation Day on Tuesday and insisted she take Nurse Poplar out for a long, extended lunch. She was more than capable of handling the front desk.

“Your guys are gonna be so excited to see you and the kids! And who’s this gentleman?”

Uncle Basilio softly took Giselle’s hand and kissed it. “Basilio Capello, a vostra disposizione, la signorina.”

“Woooowww…”

“Yes, he’s charming, Giselle. I do believe our time may be short today, we have things to do.”

“Oh… right. Victoria, I’ll bring in the phlebotomy tray and do the blood draws. I put your guys in suite 12 so you have enough room for everyone. I believe you know the way.”

Cosimo and Leonard did indeed light up when they saw everyone. They all took turns giving them hugs; except Uncle Basilio, he hung back.

“Daddy, Uncle Lenny, I got married again; to my third, you know what they say! This is Basilio, my husband Damiano’s uncle. He doesn’t speak much English.”

As Basilio stepped towards them, they began to flinch and make soft moaning sounds.

Giselle came in to do the blood draws. “What’s gotten into our guys? Is the excitement too much for you?”

Basilio stepped back. “Le mie scuse, non mi conoscono (my apologies, they don’t know me.)”

“Let’s get you two settled back down, can’t have you all upset; not good for your blood pressure.”

She checked their blood pressure and got them their meds before doing any blood draws. “That’s kinda weird, they’ve seen lots of people in and out of here and I haven’t seen them react like that before. Must be a little overwhelming for them.”

“I’ll put a rush on this, should have the results in two weeks. How long is your family staying?”

“I don’t really know; ZZ, how long are you all able to stay?”

“Oh, a week or so.”

“Are you able to extend that a bit, say at least three weeks?”

“I can swing it, I’ll check with the tribe to see how long everyone can stay.”

It took a bit of arm twisting to get the boys to agree but they agreed on three weeks.

“ZZ, do you mind if we invite a couple of friends to go with us to the club? Cela and Maddi are the first friends we’ve made here.”

“No problem, mom, your friends are my friends!”

The four of them met with the kids… and Uncle Basilio at the club. Wolff greeted them at the door.

“I’ll check your coats, ladies.”

The floor was packed with a lot of kids with pale skin tones, dark hair and black clothing, and a fair number of people in their own age group. The DJ was pumping electronic dance music like Madonna and Lady Ga Ga. They spotted Uncle Basilio before they spotted the kids. He was sitting back in a booth, sipping a martini. The black fedora was on the table and his coat was draped over his shoulders. Victoria and Daphne didn’t notice before but he was quite a handsome man. Cela and Maddi agreed.

They joined their daughters on the dance floor while the men looked on. Baldo and Stewie sat in a separate booth from Basilio; sipping cocktails and watching him, warily.

The ladies boogied and threw back cocktails and didn’t seem to notice Wolff watching them. Frances tended to them personally, making sure they didn’t have to wait for the next round of drinks.

“Well, it’s been fun but I think we should call it a night. You kids enjoy.”

“Wait! Don’t go yet! You have to see our rooms before you guys go!”

“Well, okay but we won’t stay long. Daph and I have a lot to do tomorrow.”

They loaded themselves into the cargo-sized elevator and Azzurra pressed the button for the 5th floor. As the elevator ascended, they could hear music. The door opened on their floor and Baldo and Stewart exited. Before anyone else could step out, the doors closed abruptly behind them.

“Hey!” they could hear Baldo and Stewart’s shouting voices fading as the car climbed one more floor.

When the doors opened again, Wolf was standing before them; gleaming white smile and all.

“This way, please.”

“What is this? What’s going on?”

“Ms. Collinson, the owner of the establishment, Mr. Bakar Solo, Esquire, requests the pleasure of your company.”

“How do you know my name? What does he want with us?”

“Please don’t make this difficult.”

Several primitivos appeared seemingly from the walls of the foyer. They all wore heavy, white face make-up with dark circles under their eyes. They were cloaked and hooded in black from head to toe. They looked to be floating as they moved in closer; with sounds of sucking and lips smacking as they did.

Wolf held out his hand to usher them out of the elevator. With halting steps, they moved forward. They followed Wolf to the weighty, double doors. Uncle Basilio was the last to emerge. The primitivos shrieked and backed away as he turned to look at them. As they all walked into Bakar’s private abode, the doors crashed shut behind them, leaving the primitivos clawing and scratching to be let in.

Bakar was walking towards them with Francis on his arm. He was wearing a purple cape with a black collar and looking more like Robert Smith from The Cure.

“Wolf, see to those creatures at the door and stop that infernal noise.”

As soon as Wolf approached the door, the scratching began to still.

When he opened it, “Bakar?! Where have you been? The staff at the nursing home said that you were dead!”

“Daphne! So good to see you!” He took her hand and kissed it. “As you can see, those are but vicious rumors. As you can see, I am no longer at the beck and call of Mr. Ben Cojocaru; I’ve moved on to bigger and better things. Come now and join me.”

“For what? Why have you dragged us here?”

“Such hostility, Victoria. I’ll get to that soon enough. Wolf, who is that gentleman?”

Before Wolf could speak, Uncle Basilio stepped forward. “Basilio Capello, Signore Solo; uncle to Azzurra and Damiano Capello.”

Bakar pushed Francis aside and lunged forward… and stopped. He was fixed by Basilio’s glance and stepped back.

“You are welcome, Mr. Capello. Please, join me.”

The lights went up in the ballroom and Francis put on Nine Inch Nails; it became noticeably cooler as fog filled the room.

“Make yourselves at home.” Bakar motioned them to sit on couches surrounding a glass table with an elaborate hookah at the center of it.

“Francis?” Francis was gyrating in front of a mirror.

“Francis, put on something a bit more conducive to conversation.”

“Ok, hun. I’ll find you some ‘ambient chill’… right away.” Francis gave him a snarl and said ‘bitch’ under his breath as he walked away.

As they sat down, Bakar picked up the hookah and Wolf lit it for him. When Wolf, walked away, he gave Cela and Maddie his effervescent smile, only this time, they could see gleaming white fangs.

Cela grabbed Maddie’s hand, “Oh, shit.”

After Bakar took a smoke, he passed the hookah. Everyone was passing on it except to everyone’s surprise, Uncle Basilio. He inhaled deeply.

“I have a matter of the utmost importance to speak to you about… and, also a proposition. A business proposition, that is. First, I’d like to say to Victoria and Daphne, how sorry I am that your spouses are so gravely ill. My condolences to his children, as well.”

“He lies.”

“I beg your pardon? What was that you said… Basilio?”

“I said… you lie. You are not sorry they are sick.”

“I am so!”

“I said… no. Now, I am more curious for your… business proposition.”

“And what about Lenny and Stewie, why were they not allowed to be here? They are our children, too.”

“Victoria, I thought it best to have only the people who will be directly involved with my proposition.”

“Then, let’s get on with it,” she said.

“As you can see, I’ve made quite a success of this place and things could be even more successful.”

“Daphne and I already have a business, as do Cela and Maddie. Our kids don’t live here, they’re just visiting.”

“Exactly! We become partners and we take over Bleeding Heart; Portland, even! Join my army, I want you!”

“Well, we already have a prop…” Victoria gave Daphne a sharp look that said, don’t say anymore.

“You still haven’t told us why you don’t want Baldo and Stewie involved.”

“Details, details! I know about your blood tests; I’ve seen the results.”

“We haven’t even seen them yet! How did you get them?” Victoria spun her head and sharpened her gaze on Daphne.

“Your little friend, Giselle Immerhoch, she sang like a bird.”

“What? She wouldn’t do that, she wouldn’t share that information with you!”

“Tell them, Wolf,”

“She’s a good little nurse. She’s so concerned about her patients and their… disappearances. She’s been keeping the place under surveillance; she happened to catch some activity, one of the more, bedridden patients walking out into the hall, unassisted. She looked for the security guard who was conveniently away from his post.”

“What about cameras?”

“The guard turns the tapes in to me, I splice them and add in nice, clean footage. I return the tapes to him along with a few bucks for his trouble. That home is so cheap! Anyway, Giselle tried to stop the patient. But I stopped her. Dead in her tracks. I knew she was hiding something, I saw something in her eyes; she was worried that I might have gotten into the lab. So, we went to the lab. She opened the locked cabinet and handed over a report, which I later passed off to Bakar. Then, I fucked her brains out and nailed her with one, long, juicy bite. She’d be out roaming the streets if I hadn’t brought her back here to the stables.”

“Stables? What did you do to her? And what are you doing with the patients?”

“Those primitivos you saw in the hall?”

“Primitivos?” Victoria asked.

“Yeah, goths, dark ones. They’re for real, they’re Solo’s army and now Giselle is one of them, another warrior in the army and we all live here in the hotel hell. The patients? They’re the rations for the army.”

Bakar ran his finger around the rim of his glass until it squealed. “I knew there was something… singular about those patients in my former employer’s nursing home, so, they were brought specifically for me to feed on. If nurse Immerhoch hadn’t so courageously gone back after her shift to crack the mystery of the disappearances, she would have never run into Wolf. Alas, it was your husbands, or, should I say the Collinson sisters that are… special… and their daughters.”

“Vampires,” Cela said, dazedly.

“I prefer the moniker, Strigoi. It’s much more, eloquent.”

“Wait a minute,” Victoria pointed at Bakar, “We’re not vampires! What was in that report?!”

“Well, I’m not a scientist!”

“Then, you don’t know what that report means.”

“Well, not exactly… but there is something special, that much I know.”

“And how does this give you leverage?”

“Your fledgling businesses would suffer if this we to get out.”

“If what got out?”

“Eeeeeerrrrrrgh!!!! You partner with me, we take over this town and beat we Cojocaru at his own game!”

“That’s what this is about?! Beating Cojocaru?”

“I don’t know what you are... yet, but I am a Strigoi and the way I see it, you don’t have a choice. I hold the power but Ben Cojocaru has extraordinary powers and there is some connection to you and your husbands that gives him his abilities. Ben made me this way, but I will usurp him!”

“Suppose I tell you we already have a deal with Ben?”

Bakar stood up and bore his fangs. “Then your husbands…” He licked his pointed daggers, “become the undead and new recruits in my army.”

Francis abruptly stopped the music and a video began to flicker to the live performance of Diamanda Galás, I Put a Spell on You.

“Don’t trust him, Victoria.”

“Don’t make me sssorry I brought you two in on this, Cssselesssstina.” Bakar was now drooling.

Suddenly, he bolted and attacked Maddie, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her into his chest. “She will be my bitch, now.”

Maddie was frozen in his grasp. He began licking her neck to pick a stop to plunge his teeth into.

“Bullshit!” Cela sprang up and onto Bakar’s back. The three of them spun around and around while Bakar snarled and spit. Uncle Basilio’s eyes were fixed on Cela but he did not move. No one seemed able to move, they just watched, helplessly. Wolf looked on with an amused grin while Francis danced feverishly to the music.

With all eyes fixed on Bakar, they didn’t notice Uncle Basilio open his cloak and pull out a knife, a sterling silver stiletto. He calmly approached the whirling trio, grabbing Cela’s hand and firmly clasping her fingers around the knife. He deliberately and forcefully guided her hand to Bakar’s neck. Cela began to cut... and slice and rip and pull with a strength she had never known. Bakar’s blood was spewing everywhere; he continued to howl and hold onto Maddie until his neck finally snapped and his head was held by the hair in Cela’s blood soaked hand. The three of them collapsed on the floor, sliding in the sticky, oily gore.

“Come, we must go. Hurry, everyone!” Uncle Basilio gave them steely looks and they followed him to the massive doors.

“We’re going with you. He was a shitty boss, anyhow!” Francis yelled as he and Wolf ran with them out into the hall only to find the soldier primitivos waiting for them.

Uncle Basilio raised his arms from his cloak and something caught Victoria’s eye. There on his wrist was a serpent watch, who’s green eyes now glowed, and their radiance filled the space. It rapidly became unbearably hot as the primitivos began to shriek and recoil.

“Into the elevator, now!”

Everyone scurried into the elevator… except Uncle Basilio. “I will be with you. Don’t worry about me.” The doors closed on Basilio.

A new day was dawning. Drawn by the smell of fresh blood, the stable of vampires had ascended to the top floor, where they were now sequestered. Basilio sealed the elevator doors with the heat emitting from his watch. He made his way to the floors below, sealing the exits and forces out anyone that was still human. Many of the patients from the nursing home were unable to run. He again used the power of the serpent; this time, the glowing eyes calmed the lame and to those that were able, were commanded by his will to carry the frailer ones out.

Outside, everyone was standing on the sidewalk, looking up at the 6th floor that was now brilliantly glowing green and blazing. There were vampires still trying to break the glass in the windows as they screeched and liquified in the morning sun. The patients that made it out were confused and pacing the sidewalk.

Sirens were blaring and screaming closer. Ambulances began to arrive and EMTs exited to treat survivors for burns and smoke inhalation then taking them away to Legacy Oregon Burn Center Hospital.

Victoria watched fire fighters scrambling with hoses and ladders. Azzurra gazed up at the now collapsing building and sobbed, “Where in the hell is Uncle Basilio?”

“Uncle Basilio? Where are Baldo and Stewie?”

“Oh mom…”

“And Giselle? Has anyone seen them?”

A helicopter could be heard overhead and news vans from KATU, KOIN and KGW were approaching.

“We have to get out of here, I don’t want to talk to any reporters.”

“You’re right, mom; there’s no way we can explain any of this… and I don’t think all of us will fit in your car.”

The rented, black Ford Explorer came screeching up from the parking garage. Stewie was driving and Baldo swung the door open and shouted, “Get in!”

ZZ and Rosie ran to the car, Stewie scarcely slowed down long enough to let them into the car. Rosie pushed ZZ in and ZZ grabbed Rosie as they sped off.

Victoria and Daphne took Cela and Maddie home before heading back to Victoria’s to wait for the kids. It seemed an eternity until the phone finally rang.

“Mom, Rosie, Stewie, Baldo and me are at the airport.” Victoria put her on speaker phone.

“What? Wait? Why?”

“We talked about it, all of us, and we all pretty much feel the same way; we’re pretty freaked out. We just want to go home.”

“You can’t! What about your uncle, Uncle Basilio?”

There was a long pause. “I don’t know where he is.”

“So, you’re just going to leave without him?!”

“We have no choice mom. We all agreed, we must get out of here, now. Uncle Basilio is resourceful, he’s proved that back at the hotel. He has my cellular phone number and I gave him your number as well. I’m sure he’ll call one of us.”

“But I don’t speak Italian!”

“Seems to me, he’s picked up English pretty fast. Uncle Basilio knows more than he’s let on.”

“But what about the lab report?”

“If Bakar had it, it’s toast now.”

“There may be copies, at the facility.”

“Mom, drop it. I don’t want to know, none of us want to know. In fact, if there are copies, don’t tell me. We all just want to go back to our normal, boring lives.”

“If that’s the way you want it.” Victoria tried to mask the hurt in her voice.

“Yes, mom, it is. We’ll call you when we get home.

Victoria hung up without saying good-bye.