The Dark Gift

[Callie]

Vlad

I shrugged and smirked slightly. "I'd advise you to learn German."

Abel

"Robbery?" I asked carefully, thinking. What robbery? I couldn't remember one, but maybe I'd been out... or asleep. "Sure. I'll buzz you in," I said, and did so.

[alex]

Ivan

"Well, maybe I can work the "I'm a tourist"-skit to get some easy meals," I suggested with a wide grin. So sinister. But I liked it.

Truda

I raised an eyebrow while I let go of the button. I heard the door snap open. "Jeez... your brother is pretty easily fooled for a vampire."

[Callie]

Vlad

I just laughed. "Maybe so."

Blade

"He wasn't meant to be a vampire," I said simply, shaking my head as I walked in. Oh, Abel... To be honest, I was sort of surprised he wasn't dead already.

[alex]

Ivan

"We're not kidnapping anyone else on the way, right? Because she's already a handful," I said as I shot a glance to the backseat.

Truda

"No one is." I shrugged. As Blade walked inside I followed him, not carefully this time. From the way Blade talked about him, Abel didn't seem like a terrifying guy.

[Callie]

Vlad

"No, we're not. She should be all we need," I told him.
"I can hear you, you know," she muttered.
I rolled my eyes. "Does it sound like we care?"

Blade

"No, but he... really shouldn't've been made a vampire," I told her as we walked.

[alex]

Ivan

It was a very quiet journey, if you look beyond the varies outburst from the girl. "So... Russia," I mumbled as I looked out my window. "It looks about the same as I imagined."

Truda

I blinked, wondering what he meant exactly. "Which door is it?" I asked as we seemed to get up to the right floor at least.

[Callie]

Vlad

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked as I pulled into the parking lot of a hotel.

Blade

I led her over to 13B and knocked on the door. After a moment, Abel opened it and looked stunned. It was obvious he hadn't been expecting me. I pushed him back so hard that he landed in the chair that was nearby. I let myself and Truda in as Abel stood up and watched us, guarded. "Of course there wasn't a robbery," he said, his arms crossed. "I should've seen that one."
"You should've," I told him, running my fingers along a wood panel on the wall. "Here's the thing, littl - Abel. We need a place to stay. Away from prying eyes. Could you do that for me?"
"Get out of my house," he said flatly. "I meant it when I said I never wanted to see you again, Blade."

[alex]

Ivan


"Hmm... good," I decided and grinned widely. "I like it. And I could definitely see myself living here."

Truda

I walked in, closing the door behind me. "It's obvious you have some unfinished business..." I crossed my arms over my chest. "I just want a place to stay. So I don't die." It seemed like a legit proposal to me. They were brother's after all, there should be some sort of sibling love between them. At least enough for him to let us stay.

[Callie]

Vlad

I laughed. "Don't get too used to it. We're setting up camp here and then heading to the palace to present our little friend. They'll need a while to argue over trivialities, but eventually tradition will win over, and then we'll be living in the palace itself."

Blade

"See?" I tried. "We just need a place to stay."
Abel eyed her carefully. "Who is she?"
"An aquaintance of mine."
"Not a friend?"
"Nope. Did you not catch the part where she's going to die if you don't let her stay with you, though?"
He looked like he was struggling with himself. Likely the goodness of his heart or whatever wrestling over his hate of me. "Fine. Both of you can stay." He looked over to me. "But you owe me an explanation."
I was over next to him and pinning him to the wall in seconds. "I owe you nothing, little brother," I hissed firmly. Then I let go.
Abel didn't look amused, but he didn't tell me to get out. I sat down on the couch and shut my eyes. "You should show her around," I told him.

Abel

I looked over to the girl and signaled for her to follow me down the hallway. "You are?" I asked her flatly.

[alex]

Ivan

"Ahh... a palace." I sighed. "It just sounds right."

Truda

I followed him, putting my hands in my jeans pockets. "Truda," I answered. "And you're Abel, or so I've heard." I bit my lip, wondering if he might tell me why Blade acted so strange around him.

[Callie]

Vlad

"Doesn't it, though?" I grinned and got out of the car, opening the doors for the back and waiting for the girl to get out. Then I realized she was asleep. "I wish she was passed out more often," I remarked, picking her up and jerking my head towards the doors. "Shut that, would you?"

Abel

"That's me," I told her, pushing open the door to the spare bedroom. "You can stay in here." I mustered a smile. "Blade should be fine staying on the couch."

[alex]

Ivan

"She's quite stubborn, yes..." Shutting the door behind them, I quickly walked after Vlad as he carried the girl in his arms. "The Russian girls..." I mumbled as a group of them walked past us. "You must be happy to be back." I grinned at Vlad.

Truda

"Thanks," I said and snuck around him, sitting down on the bed. "So... Blade never told me how you became a vampire. Pretty low odds that two brothers get turned." I turned my head to the side as I observed him.

[Callie]

SPOILER: Click to show

Name: Vladimir Abramov
Age: 2472 (turned at 28)
Race: Vampire
Personality: Devious, stubborn, scheming, bold, bossy, clever, impatient, intelligent, leader.
Bio: [Later.]
Picture:
Other: None.

SPOILER: Click to show

Name: Blaise Mirov
Age: 1873 (turned at 25)
Race: Vampire
Personality: Ambitious, calm, compassionate, clever, sneaky, curious, stubborn, resourceful.
Bio: [Later.]
Picture:
Other: None.

Vlad

I grinned at him. "You have no idea," I told him, "but you'll see why soon enough." I pushed the doors open and walked inside and up to the desk. "The reservations for a Miss Mirov?" I asked.
The concierge looked through the booklet after glancing at the passed out Mikah in my arms, then back up to me. "She was only expecting two."
"If you call her room, I think you'll discover she was mistaken."
He eyed me warily, then called up to her. After he was off the phone, he nodded and handed me a key card. "My apologies. Enjoy your stay."
"Thank you." I got into the elevator and waited for Ivan to follow.

Abel

I crossed my arms and watched her carefully. "He turned me. And killed our parents," I said bitterly.

[alex]

Ivan

"Thank you," I repeated before following Vlad. "I'm guessing I'm in for a surprise of some sort," I said as the elevator doors finally closed.

Truda

When I didn't reply, there was a long awkward silence. "I'm sorry..." I knew that was the right thing to say, but yet it sounded more like a question. "Would you rather he killed you?"

[Callie]

Vlad

"Well, you get to meet my very own Russian girl," I told him, smirking as the elevator climbed one floor at a time.

Abel

"I..." I scowled. "No. But sometimes..." I shook my head.

[alex]

Ivan

I grinned. "Of course." I brushed a few strands of Mikah's hair off her face. I don't know why I did it, but I quickly turned to face the elevator door again. "You don't know how lucky you are, Vlad. It's not always fun to just be alone."

Truda

"I heard a no," I said softly. "I don't really know Blade, but I don't think he came here to make your life miserable." Probably...

[Callie]

Vlad

I arched an eyebrow at him as the elevator came to a stop. "Why don't you just turn someone?" I asked him. That was what I'd done. Then again, there was always that possibility that whoever you turned wouldn't like you. Blaise certainly hadn't been fond of me at first.
I headed down the hall and knocked on the door that matched the keycard I had. There were very few doors on this floor, which was when I realized I'd clicked on the button for the top floor. Penthouse. Of course.
And no one was answering the door. I attributed it to the fact that I could hear Avenged Sevenfold blaring from the stereo from out here. "Hold her?" I asked Ivan; I'd put my keycard in my pocket.

Abel

I let out a harsh laugh. "Exactly. You don't know him. He might have, but, as you say, he might not. At any rate, I don't want him in my house."

[alex]

Ivan

"It's not always easy," I replied simply, hoping the conversation would end there. Vlad seemed like an okay guy, but I had no intention on talking about stuff that I had no interest in. Instead I took Mikah from him and held her with ease.

Truda

"Kill him then." I furrowed my eyebrows together. "Is that what you want?"

[Callie]

Vlad

I smiled faintly. "Understandable," I said, taking the keycard out of my pocket. I slipped it into the door and opened it. The music paused and then I was flung against the wall by an angel with golden hair, who let go the next second.
"Oh," she said with a small smile. "It's just you." Blaise turned to look at Ivan and Mikah, and tilted her head.
"That's the girl, and a friend of ours," I told her quickly, taking Mikah from Ivan.
Blaise nodded and pointed down the hallway. "The guest rooms are down there," she said, holding a hand out to Ivan. "I'm Blaise," I heard her say.

Abel

"I..." I sighed. "I don't know. I don't want to be near him, but it's not like I want him dead. I just..." I scowled at her. "This is none of your business in the first place," I said, leaving the door open but walking out and back into the kitchen.
Blade arched an unconcerned eyebrow at me. "I hope you're being nice to our guest."
"Fuck off, Blade."
"Now, now," he said, but he didn't do anything.

[alex]

Ivan

"Ivan," I said as I shook her hand. "Is that how you greet all your guests?" I asked, referring to the jump she's made at Vlad. I raised an eyebrow at her.

Truda

I sighed. He was right, this was non of my business. I was stupid to even try to save both our asses, I should just turn in Blade and be over with it. I wondered how Abel would react when something actually happened to his brother... He seemed to be confused right now.
I walked over to the mirror, pulling a hand through my messy hair. That's really the best way to describe me right now: a mess.

[Callie]

Blaise

I laughed and smiled slightly. "I don't usually get many guests."

Vlad

I deposited the girl on the bed, with no idea of how she was still asleep. I shook my head slightly before shutting the door after myself and heading into the main room.

Abel

I turned back around to face Blade. "Why?" I asked him, crossing my arms again. "Why did you kill them?"
He simply shrugged and got up, heading down the hallway and knocking on the room where Truda was staying. I sighed and headed into my room, getting into the closet and looking through a few things I'd deemed important enough to keep when I left home.

[alex]

Ivan

"I figured as much." I put my hands behind my back. "May I step in?" I assumed she was gonna say yes so instead of waiting for her answer, I stepped in. "So does your woman have any other purpose on this mission other than storage?"

Truda

"Yeah... come in," I said calmly as I wiped some smudged mascara from under my eyes.

[Callie]

Blaise

"Sure," I said, and walked over to the stereo, turning it off and plopping down on the couch.

Vlad

I smiled slightly at him. "She's our political brains. I can't deal with idiotic humans," I said with a roll of my eyes.
"Not without ripping their throats out, at least," Blaise added, smirking. "Which really wouldn't help our case."

Blade

I walked in and arched an eyebrow at her. "You alright?" I asked, sitting down on her bed.

[alex]

Ivan

"Well, we'll need both skills," I said with a smile as I sat down in a chair. "But maybe get their trust before we rip their head off."

Truda

I stayed quiet for a few moments as I picked up some concealer and eyeliner from my pocket and applied some to my face. I then turned to him. "Are you?"

[Callie]

Vlad

"I see you even got someone with brains for the entire operation," Blaise said with a laugh.
"Oh, har har."
She stood up and headed down the hallway. "I'm going to check on our guest."
"Okay."

Blade

I smiled faintly. "I asked you first," I told her.

Blaise

I sat on the edge of the bed and just watched the girl for a few moments. I carefully tossed a blanket over her. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," I whispered. "You don't deserve this. But I suppose it has to be done."

Abel

Eventually, I found a journal in a shoebox. When I opened it, I realized it was Blade's. I bit my lip - did I really want to read about his plans to kill our parents? Did I want to invade his privacy like that? Then again, I needed answers, and maybe his journal would give me what he wouldn't. I cracked it open to the last journal entry and read over it.
Dad and Mom were dead when I came over today. At least, if I'd still been human, I would've thought they were. They were damn near close. They were changing.
I didn't know what to do, how to feel. My thoughts immediately went to Abel - he was out. Not home. So I took a seat on the couch and waited.
When he walked in, you could tell he thought I'd murdered them. I was more than happy to let him believe that. Him thinking I'm a complete monster is better than knowing the two of them would be roaming the earth undead, isn't it?
Anyway, I did the first thing I'd thought of since I got there. I dug my fangs into his neck and nearly drained him. I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't take him with me, and if he was still there when Dad and Mom woke up, he'd just be their first snack. This way, they'd think he was dead when they woke up, and they'd leave him alone.
After that, I left. I know he'll hate me, but I swear it's better this way.
Well, I hope.

[alex]

Ivan

I ran my fingers through my hair. "So, it seems as if there is no turning back now," I mumbled and shot a glance at Vlad.

Truda

I furrowed my eyebrows together. "I'm... I don't know. When I became I vampire I didn't think I'd have to deal with the good guy, bad guy skit. We eat people... we're all bad guys. It should be simple." I shrugged, rolling my thumbs. "But it's obviously not." I bit my lip, stopping myself from ranting.

[Callie]

Vlad

I raised my eyebrows at him. "Are you having second thoughts?"

Blade

"What made you decide to get all deep?" I asked her with a small smile.

Abel

I stared at the passages in front of me, not sure what to think. My parents were alive and Blade had changed me into a vampire so he could save me from them... I'd gone decades thinking my older brother had killed my parents and changed me because he was a power-hungry asshole, but... it wasn't like that at all.

[alex]

Ivan

I stayed quiet for a moment as I thought. Finally I answered, "No." I was surprised myself how easy it had been. Sure, we were ruining people's life but honestly... this was the most fun I'd had in years. "I'm definitely not."

Truda

I couldn't help but smirk back. "Well, I started wondering why I'm even here. Your relationship with your brother is already complicated. So many things have happened... it's all too fucked up for me."

[Callie]

Vlad

I grinned. "Good."

Blaise

The girl started to move around, so I left the room quietly. "I'm going to bed," I said, shooting Vladimir a meaningful look that said he'd better join me soon or he was out of luck.
"Me too," he said, standing up.
"You can sleep on the couch or kick your captive out of her room," I told Ivan. "I think she's waking up, by the way," I said, retreating into the master bedroom.

Blade

I arched an eyebrow at her. "Does that mean you're gonna turn me in after all?"

[alex]

Ivan

I shifted my weight. "I'll think of something," I replied. I realized that was a stupid answer, but I probably shouldn't go talk to the girl. Yet I was getting more and more bored. As Vlad went in to the other room I sat absolutely still for a few minutes. Then, I was outside her room. I opened it quickly, seeing that she was indeed awake.
"If you want to eat anything, now is the only opportunity," I told her before returning to the chair. But this time, I didn't close her door.

Truda

"I wouldn't do anything that would put me in danger," I replied. Which basically just meant that I might, but only when I was far away from here. "Tell me though, are you the stereotypical bad guy, Blade?"