Page 62 of The Vanishing
The detective starts, frowning. “I—I don’t know…donateor something.”
“We do. To numerous causes. What else?”
“Look. I know you can’t just swoop in and save a whole country, alright? I’m just saying that these people are probably suffering. It’s not just about ‘lifestyles.’”
“In my experience, misery and suffering exist in many forms, and contentment can be found in the humblest of circumstances. I feel that the true danger lies in making shallow comparisons and broad assumptions.”
She turns toward the door, sneering. “Right. I guess I haven’t lived long enough yet in my meager second-gen life to reach such high levels of enlightenment. I’ll be back in the morning, my lords.” She offers a shallow bow, then leaves.
“What the hell isherproblem?” Nino frowns. “Why is she so bitter toward us? Should I tell her that even though I lived in a fancy house, I was being abused? That my mom died when I was eight and my entire community ostracized me—like I was a stain on society? Is my suffering invalid because I grew up in a ‘sprawling estate’?”
“Ignore her. Whatever issue she has, it is within herself.” When Haruka sits on the bed, it squeaks in a loud whine. He stretches his hand out, a gentle smile gracing his lips.
Understanding, Nino walks toward him. He meets the gesture, sliding his palm within his mate’s and moving to stand in between Haruka’s gaped legs. Outside, the wind is already howling, gaining momentum all around them like loud whispers.
Nino takes a deep breath, then sighs. “Thank you for doing this.”
“Are you uncomfortable? Being so close to your place of captivity?”
“Not really… The detective made me feel anxious just now, but I’m alright. Shit… I’m looking forward to taking you back to Milan and then Trentino after we’re done here. I think we’re way overdue for some peace.”
Haruka brings the back of Nino’s hand to his mouth, placing a soft kiss against his knuckles. “Let’s concentrate and work together tomorrow so that we can leave as soon as possible? I do not wish to bear the brunt of her misplaced resentment for any longer than necessary.”
“Sounds good,” Nino breathes. He looks past his mate and at the narrow bed. “I call big spoon tonight.”
* * *
The bird’s-eyeview of the ocean is now replaced with mountains—rolling and cavernous as far as Nino can see. Sharp peaks and low valleys covered with dirt and dust. Dragon’s Blood trees stretch upward with their inverted roots and vegetation grows wild but sparse between cracks and cliffs. When Lajos’s house comes into view, Nino’s heart pounds. His pulse beats in his ears over the loud chop of the helicopter’s propeller.
A large white Victorian-style house stands atop the mountain—completely out of place in this vast, alien wilderness. The design is two-story and asymmetrical with rounded rooftops and towers. Somehow, the drama of its appearance emphasizes the odd juxtaposition of its location, like a nun at a basement rave who is also wearing a sequined habit.
As the helicopter draws closer in its descent, the house is in serious decay: chipped paint and damaged shutters. The roof is dilapidated, even caved in over one small section toward the back. There’s no movement anywhere out here. No vampires, people or animals. Just the large, misplaced house in ruins.
They touch down on a generous spread of flat rock beneath the house. The helicopter operator remains seated while the detective, Marcus, Haruka and Nino make their exit. When Nino steps onto the mountain, he shivers. The temperature is low from the altitude, much lower than in the village where they stayed overnight.
“I warned you, didn’t I?” Detective Cuevas chides as Nino bristles from the chill. “I’m surprised you purebreds even get cold.”
“We are not infallible,” Haruka says coolly, his hands tucked within the pockets of his long wool navy blue coat. “If you prick us, do we not bleed for five seconds?”
The detective snorts. “Funny.”
“How are we supposed to get up there?” Nino asks, rubbing his hands together before sticking them in the pockets of his hooded bomber jacket. His unease is low grade but threatening to boil. The sooner they start moving, the better.
“There’s a path around the side with steps leading up to the front. The house is in pretty bad shape, so we should be careful. Follow me, please.” Both the detective and her deputy are wearing large red backpacks, which they adjust and grip as they move forward, leading the way.
Rocks crunch and slide underneath their feet. The path climbs higher and higher, the wind picking up and whipping everyone’s hair and coats as they move. This trail has been manually carved out, because soon, they’re walking through a stone corridor with towering walls on either side of them. Nino likens the sensation to being in a wind tunnel, the sound of it loud as it rushes past his ears. When the breeze quiets, he looks over his shoulder at Haruka.
Do you feel this?
Haruka flicks his irises up to meet his gaze, resolute.Yes. There are other purebreds here.
The wind sweeps violently again, making Nino swallow hard.But where? I can feel the hum of their energy, but it’s almost… muffled?
“Look.”
Both Nino and Haruka pause. The tunnel opens to a wide cliff with the landscape below stretching on for miles, seemingly endless.
Detective Cuevas points toward the west. “You can see the mud-brick houses in the distance. We went down there before, but like I told you when I called, it was deserted—not a singular vampire in sight. Very eerie and dank. No electricity or plumbing or anything. It felt like something out of the Stone Ages.”
