Sandu was careful when he took blood, making certain not to take too much. He didn’t want the donor to be dizzy and perhaps have an accident near the water. The man had a family he provided for with his fishing. His wife made jewelry. His children helped him fish and hunt, and they gathered herbs, roots and plants for food. He was a good man, the kind Sandu preferred to take blood from. It was always a reminder that there was good in the world. Sandu lived too long in the shadows where the undead spread their taint, and he needed the reminder.
As he approached the system of caves, Benedek joined him. “Siv is up to his old tricks. I woke this rising covered in all manner of leeches. They were so heavy, the egg sacs attached to my body, I was unsure I could rise.”
Sandu’s eyebrow shot up. “Siv did this?”
Petru materialized beside them, his eyes a slash of silver. “That Siv will regret his little prank with the leeches.”
“Perhaps the leeches really are in the soil,” Sandu ventured. “I left Adalasia alone. I do not wish her to wake with leeches crawling all over her.”
“He would not dare have them on her,” Benedek said, his voice a threat.
Nicu joined them. “I woke to the weight of leeches this rising,” he announced.
“You were not alone,” Petru said.
Afanasiv strode out of the trees, his eyes stormy, turbulent like the sea. “I do not appreciate the leeches crawling all over me this rising. Which one of you decided it was payback for a crime I did not commit? There were never leeches in anyone’s chamber. We made that up, remember? To put them in my sleeping chamber is a vile transgression, and when I discover who did this thing, one of you will pay.”
The four brethren exchanged long looks. They turned their piercing gaze on Sandu. He held up both hands in surrender.
“I did not do this thing.” He knew they were adept at hearing lies. He wasn’t lying, but it was impossible to keep the amusement from his mind. He wished he could have been an insect on the wall of each of their chambers as they woke to find their bodies covered in the clearly very well-done illusion of leeches in the stages of breeding and attaching their eggs.
The five men exchanged long, puzzled looks again.
“Sandu,” Benedek began, then stopped, shaking his head.
“It is not possible,” Nicu declared, as if knowing what was in Benedek’s mind.
“Do you believe these caves are the breeding grounds for the leeches?” Sandu asked.
“No.” Siv was adamant. “And you do not, either, Sandu. You are up to your old tricks.”
“I told you, I had nothing to do with the leeches, Siv. I give you my word.”
Siv regarded him with suspicion. “What of our little sister? Can you vouch for her? She wove her safeguards into the earth. What is to say she did not also weave in a spell to bring leeches to the surface?”
“Why would she do such a thing?” Sandu asked.
“We may have played a small trick on her,” Petru admitted, “while you were carrying her to the caves.”
Nicu took up the explanation. “We spoke of leeches. Waking up to the creatures crawling over our bodies and attaching their egg sacs to us.”
“Why would you do such a thing?” Sandu asked. He held back his laughter and tried to look as if he smoldered with fury. He was very good at the look. He’d been using it for centuries. Evidently, it must have worked.
Benedek hastened to explain. “We did it to lighten her mood and distract her from having to read the cards for us. We knew she was upset and didn’t want to do it.”
Sandu deliberately frowned. Adalasia. Are you awake?
Yes. I am lying here with Mother Earth’s arms surrounding me in warmth. It’s a beautiful night. I managed to light the sconces, and the gems in the walls are glittering as if they have been polished. It really is quite lovely in here.
Have you been following the conversation? Sandu persisted, enjoying the intimacy of having her in his mind.
Mm-hmm.
Her laughter was sweet. Tugged at him low, a fist of desire forming into a relentless calling. He savored his ability to feel such a force of nature.
They are becoming suspicious.
Her laughter burst over him. Through him. Leapt from his mind into each of his brethren. Her joy of that moment. Teasing them. So happy she was able to get them back for their little prank on her.
Right under your ancient collective noses, she bragged, her laughter contagious.
There was a moment of silence, as if the rain forest itself had to come to terms with the idea that a newly turned human might actually outwit four ancient Carpathian hunters. They stayed in Sandu’s mind, sharing his amusement. Sharing her laughter. Her enjoyment of playing her prank on them, her ability to get them back for their teasing.