The Vampire’s Servant novel Chapter 72

During dinner, Echo talked all about her shopping trip. She described the dresses she’d picked out with so much excitement that I was eager to see them. She also went on about the stylist and her master. I realized, Victor couldn’t properly marry Echo. He smiled and listened without so much as a twinge.

Technically, they were already married from the bite, but that wasn’t the same. I wondered if Echo wanted to get married the traditional way. I knew my parents would want a wedding. I felt like I should bring it up at some point, but decided it would be better used next time Echo needed a distraction.

When we were done with the meal, Echo and Jean-Claude cleaned up. She told me she needed to work on her laundry and that I could help, if I wanted. I shook my head. I needed to talk to Victor more.

I wanted to help with the curse. If it could kill him, I had to help fix it. Echo wouldn’t deal well with losing either of us. And I was coming to think of him as a friend. He tried to give me the tools to gain Echo’s love and he wasn’t that bad… for a vampire.

He was in his office with the door closed. I knocked and waited for him to call me in. It didn’t take long.

Victor was sitting at his desk with a stack of files on one side and a folded piece of paper in front of him. I closed the door behind me and sat in the chair across from him. He raised an eyebrow at me.

“Is there something I can help you with, Grayson?” He asked.

“You could call me Gray….” I offered.

“I really haven’t time for this, Grayson. If you’re feeling lonely, go talk to the other werewolves.” Victor said and turned his attention back to the paper on his desk.

“I was just trying to break the ice, Victor. Talia told me about the curse. I want to help. What do you need from me?” I asked.

“I need you to focus on keeping Echo happy while I resolve it. This is my territory. My responsibility. I don’t need help.” He replied coolly.

“Stop being an asshat. This is dangerous. Echo needs both of us. You’re my friend. I don’t want you to die. You don’t have to do this alone.” I insisted.

“Asshat? You have a colorful way with words, Grayson. I don’t know how you could help aside from keeping the fact that it could kill me from Echo. If last night is any indicator, we don’t want her to meltdown over something I plan to resolve. This isn’t as easy as it seems. I was just rereading the last update letter sent by the first Master of this territory. It’s vague and none of his previous updates even hint at what could have led to any of this.” Victor sighed.

“Can I see it?” I asked. “I might have a different perspective.”

He scoffed, but handed me the letter. I unfolded it. The paper was old and fragile, so I was as careful as possible while I read the slightly faded handwriting.

–

To whomever it may concern,

This is my final message to the Council. I regret to inform you that a curse has been placed on this territory. The exact conditions of it are hard to describe. I physically cannot write them. I have tried repeatedly.

Suffice it to say, the union of my territory with the local coven of witches has fallen through and my negotiations with the werewolves is completely off the table.

The only way I can see to break this curse before it fully takes hold of the territory is to kill myself. By the time this letter reaches you, I will have met the sun. I have lost too much, in any case, to make this long life worth living. I do not fear my future undoing. I leave this territory in the care of my second in command, Thornton Graves. He will make an excellent Master and this territory should grow rapidly under the change of command.

I thank you for assigning me this post and giving me a brief happiness. I will carry this experience in my heart until I am no more. My apologies for not living up to your expectations. I am certain this is the only solution to this issue. Please, do not send anyone else out here until Thornton writes to say the curse is resolved.

Your most humble servant,

Grigori Drozdov

–

I looked up at Victor. He was watching me read. This didn’t sound great and it didn’t say anything about the actual nature of the curse.

“He knew all about the curse, but couldn’t write it?” I asked.

“Other vampires who know of the curse cannot speak of it. I spoke with a few older vampires in the territory. They confirm that there is a physical reaction to talking about the curse. I have gotten as much as I can from them.” Victor said softly.

“What do you know now?” I pressed.

“Something happened between Grigori and the leader of the coven. I can’t find any witches who know about it. The coven disbanded after the leader and his whole family disappeared. The light witches refuse to get involved. They believe that Grigori had the family killed when the negotiation wasn’t going their way. I hope that Lila will be able to shed more light on it. Dark witches don’t have the same… social limitations… light witches do. Maybe she had a grandparent or great-grandparent who wrote about what happened.” He sighed. “Master Marius is bringing her here once Echo is asleep.”

“I’ll stay with Echo so you can meet with her. It sounds like Grigori was the focus of the curse. Why would it affect the werewolves?”

“We have no idea. I’m still working that out. Maybe there’s a werewolf component somewhere.” Victor shrugged.

I nodded. That made sense.

“What happened with the vampire that took over?” I asked.

“He disappeared soon after Grigori met the sun. So did the second support. Absolutely no one knows what happened to them. The next person who tried to take over ended up tripping and staking himself. Vampires don’t trip. There are no awkward vampires. Even Springer was graceful from the moment he rose.” Victor shook his head.

“Are there more letters from anyone or notes?”

“There are some journals. Some of them just seem to go from being intelligent people, to being raving lunatics. Others become less wordy until they just stop. People who would write two or three pages of descriptive information in their journals suddenly started being cryptic, as if they were being spied on, then stopped writing all together.” He explained.

“Have you talked with Trent?” I asked.

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