He was not so ordinary himself. A vampire at the first level of Power – not exactly magical Power, not the same as my own, it was vampire Power. But he could definitely be called a first-level Other.
‘The incident in the Dungeons,’ I said.
‘Just as I thought.’ The youth walked on in front of me, striding easily up two steps at a time. ‘A most unpleasant incident. I appreciate the humour of the situation, of course … But it is not good. These are not times when you can simply walk up to someone you like the look of and drink him dry. Not at all!’
‘Do you miss the good old days?’ I couldn’t resist asking.
‘Sometimes,’ said the youth. He laughed. ‘But each age and each time has its own advantages, doesn’t it? People become civilised, they stop hunting witches and believing in vampires. And we become civilised. We can’t regard human beings as cattle who have no rights. People deserve the right to be respected, if only as our own ancestors. You should respect your ancestors, surely?’
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything to argue with in all this.
‘It’s a good room – you’ll like it,’ the vampire continued as he reached the fourth-floor landing. There were only two doors there and the staircase went on up into the attic. ‘On the right is the suite for Dark Ones, also very pleasant. I furnished it to my own taste and am quite proud of the design. And this is your suite.’
He did not need a key – he patted the lock gently with his hand and the door opened. A bit of petty showing-off that seemed rather strange for such an old vampire.
‘We have a very good self-taught designer, a Light Other. He is only sixth level, but no magic is needed for this work,’ Bruce went on. ‘I asked him to decorate three rooms to the taste of Light Ones. Most of the rest of the interior is rather more original, you understand …’
I walked into the suite and froze on the spot in astonishment.
I’d never realised that my taste was like this.
Everything around me was white, beige and pink. The parquet flooring was light, bleached wood, the walls were covered with beige wallpaper with pale pink flowers, the furniture was old-fashioned, but also made of light-coloured wood and snow-white satin. The large sofa by the wall was leather. And what colour? White, of course. There was a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The windows were draped with transparent tulle and the curtains were bright pink.
The sun must really have made this place sizzle in the mornings
One door led into a small bedroom. Cosy, with a double bed. The bed sheets were pink silk. There was a little vase on the dressing table with a fresh scarlet rose in it – the only spot of bright colour in the entire suite. The washroom and toilet were behind another door. The space was tiny, but it was equipped with some kind of hybrid cross between a hydro-massage unit and a shower cabinet.
‘Rather vulgar and it doesn’t suit the style.’ Bruce sighed behind me. ‘But many guests like it.’
His face, reflected in the mirror, looked rather pained. Evidently he had not really liked the idea of installing this miracle of modern plumbing in the hotel.
I nodded to the vampire, without turning round. The idea that vampires are not reflected in mirrors is just as false as the tales that they absolutely cannot tolerate sunlight and are afraid of garlic, silver and aspen stakes. They are reflected in mirrors, even when they deflect a person’s attention.
But if you don’t look at them when you’re talking to them or, even worse, if you turn your back on them, it really unnerves them. Vampires have a very large number of techniques for which they need to look their opponent straight in the eye.
‘I shall be glad to take a wash,’ I said. ‘But a little later. Do you have ten minutes you could spare me, Bruce?’
‘Are you on an official visit to Edinburgh, Light One?’
‘No.’
‘Then of course I do.’ The vampire’s face lit up in a broad smile. He sat down in one of the armchairs.
I took a seat facing the youth and forced out a smile in response to his, all the time looking at his chin.
‘So what do you think of the suite?’ Bruce enquired.
‘I think an innocent girl of seventeen would like it,’ I replied honestly. ‘Only it needs a white kitten.’
‘If you wish, we can arrange for both of those,’ the vampire suggested politely.
Well, now I could consider the social part of the conversation over.
‘I have come to Edinburgh unofficially,’ I repeated. ‘But at the same time, at the request of the head of the Night Watch – and the head of the Day Watch – of Moscow.’
‘How unusual…’ the youth said quietly. ‘The esteemed Geser and the most worthy Zabulon sending the same messenger … and a Higher Magician as well – and for such a minor incident. Well, I shall be glad to be of assistance.’
‘Does what happened upset you personally?’ I asked bluntly.
‘Of course. I have already told you my opinion,’ Bruce said. He frowned. ‘We’re not living in the Middle Ages – this is the twenty-first century. We have to break the old patterns of behaviour …’ He sighed and squinted at the door of the bathroom. ‘You can’t wash in a basin and go to a wooden privy when water mains and sewers have been invented. Even if you are used to a basin and find it rather more agreeable … You know, in recent times there has been a movement growing among us to take a humane attitude towards human beings. No one drinks blood without a licence. And even with a licence they try not to kill … Hardly anyone drinks children under the age of twelve, even if they are chosen by the lottery.’
‘And why twelve?’
Bruce shrugged.
‘It’s just a matter of history. Do you know, for instance, what the most terrible crime is in Germany? The murder of a child under the age of twelve. If the child is already twelve, it is a completely different crime with different penalties … Well, already we don’t touch the young growth. And now we are trying to push through a law to exclude children from the lottery altogether.’
‘Very touching,’ I muttered. ‘But why did someone dine on the young man without a licence?’
Bruce thought about it.
‘You know, I can only offer hypotheses …’
‘That’s exactly what I’m interested in.’
Bruce paused for a bit longer, then smiled broadly.
‘What is there really to discuss? One of the young ones lost control. Most likely a young girl who only became a vampire recently, and she liked the look of the young man. And then there’s the setting, so arousing, in the style of the old legends… she got carried away.’
‘You think it was a woman?’
‘It could be a young man. If he’s gay. There isn’t actually a direct connection.’ Bruce turned his eyes away in embarrassment. ‘But it’s always more pleasant… more natural, somehow …’
‘And the second option?’ I asked, struggling to stop myself commenting on what he had said.
‘Someone from out of town. Perhaps a tourist. You know, after the Second World War, everything got so jumbled up, everyone started travelling all over the place …’ He shook his head disapprovingly. ‘Certain irresponsible individuals started taking advantage of that.’
‘Bruce, I wouldn’t like to trouble your Watches,’ I said. ‘They might get the idea that their Moscow colleagues have doubts about their professionalism Perhaps you could tell me who’s the senior vampire in your city? The Elder, the Great… what do you call him?’