Cesky Krumlov was founded over 800 years ago, and many of the buildings had stood sentinel almost as long. The continual stream of tourists provided the humans with an economic resource and the Vampires with sustenance; it was difficult to say what happened to those poor lost souls who went on holiday and never returned.
Klet was a draw for tourists as well with its scenic vistas and mountain peaks that provided an excellent view of the surrounding countryside. However, Giovani, Zabrina, Nelo, and another local Vampire, Venette, were not trekking through the thick forest in an attempt to breathe in the fresh air. Though Nelo was certain this was the area where Daunator could be found, after hours of searching, and making himself available as Nelo had instructed, they continued to come up short. Giovani was beginning to think that Nelo had purposely drawn him out of his lair in an attempt to have him destroyed. Otherwise, he was just an old coot who had lost his ever-loving mind.
As the sun began to set, the party wound their way up a steep overhang. Giovani’s ability to contact other Vampires using telepathy was strong, but despite his best efforts, he was unable to reach Daunator. As far as he could tell, there were no other Vampires anywhere nearby. While Zabrina had bitten her tongue all day, gracing him with a resistance to say, “I told you so,” he knew she was about to reach her breaking point as well. And the last thing he needed was to listen to her complain about what an idiotic idea this had been.
As they reached level ground for the moment, Giovani brought them to a halt. Gasping in frustration, he threw himself down on a large rock, causing everyone else to stop in their tracks and give him their full attention. “Well, this has been a colossal waste of time,” he exclaimed.
“Sire, I’m sure if we just keep looking....” Nelo began.
Giovani cut him off. “We’ve been looking. Clearly, this Daunator either doesn’t exist or he doesn’t live on this mountain.”
“You must be patient,” Venette crooned in her heavy accent. “You cannot force Daunator. He operates on his own schedule.”
Shaking his head rapidly, Giovani stomped his boot on the ground. “I don’t have time to be patient,” he replied. “I’ve been patient. Now is the time for action. I need advice from this sage to guide me. Otherwise, I’m never going to defeat Cadence Findley and the tyrannical team of Guardians and Hunters.”
“Giovani…” Zabrina interrupted.
“I mean, what else is a soul to do? We’ve climbed up and down this mountain more times than I care to count, and not a glimpse of this visionary.”
“Giovani…”
“Really, I’m beginning to think both of you are out of your minds, and he doesn’t even exist.”
“Giovani! Look behind you!” she finally insisted, pointing. “Isn’t that the entrance to a cave? I swear, it wasn’t there a moment ago.”
Turning slowly to look behind him, Giovani could clearly see a small entryway into what had certainly been solid rock only a few minutes before. “What the…” he mumbled as he stood and slowly walked toward the doorway.
Zabrina started to follow, but Venette’s cold hand grasped her arm. “No,” she stated sharply. “Let him go alone.”
Despite her reservations and disappointment, Zabrina stayed behind, hoping Giovani would emerge with the answers he was seeking.
* * *
Ralphio’s was the kind of place where kids hung out until curfew. A pizza buffet, free refills, loud music, and tables big enough to fit several friends made it the most popular place in town. Cadence and Aaron had arrived several minutes before Brandon and had secured a table away from the rowdier teenage crowd. Cadence insisted on sitting across from Aaron since she was pretending to be Brandon’s girlfriend, and while he had declined the pizza, Cadence was making good on the promise of “all you can eat.”
“Why don’t you ever eat?” Cadence asked tearing into a greasy piece of pepperoni.
“What are you talking about?” Aaron asked, amused at her ability to shovel food into her face so quickly. “I do eat.”
“Rarely,” she replied, a string of cheese daring her to cram half a piece of pizza into her mouth at once.
“The longer you do this, the more efficiently you burn fuel. I don’t need to eat as often as you do,” he explained.
Cadence considered his response. She had noticed from the very beginning, even that first night at her grandma’s house, that the Guardian’s didn’t eat much. “Well, I don’t know about needing to eat,” she said, wiping her hands on a napkin. “It’s the wanting to eat that gets me. And you never eat pizza.”
Shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, Aaron replied quietly, “I don’t really like pizza.”
Eyes wide with horror, Cadence managed to choke out, “You don’t like pizza? First football and now pizza. Who are you? That’s it. The wedding’s off!” She pretended to take her ring off and throw it across the table at him.
Laughing at her ridiculousness, he replied, “Keep it down. You’re supposed to be my sister, remember?”
“Well, I don’t even want to be that anymore if you’re not going to eat pizza or watch football. Sometimes, I think I don’t even know who you are!” With an emphatic look, she picked up her pizza and took another big bite.
“I’m sorry my preferences are so offensive to you.”
“Oh, they are. They are!” she assured him, her mouth still full, only half joking. “Brandon’s here,” she added, changing the subject. She could see him over Aaron’s shoulder as he entered the establishment, paid for the buffet, and greeted some of his friends before making his way over to the wide selection of pizza pies.
“Listen, you need to chill out and not try to talk him into anything tonight, all right?” Aaron cautioned, leaning across the table and grabbing her arm.
Cadence stared back at him in disgust. “Who me? When have I ever…”
“Cadence! Promise!” he said in that stern, business-like voice that she hated.
“Fine!” she agreed. “I’ll do my best.”
“Cadence!”
“He’s coming!” Brandon waved at a few other people before he stopped next to their booth, and Cadence could tell by his expression that he was hesitant to join them, despite her sliding over and patting the seat next to her. “Hey! Have a seat Brandon. How’s it going?”
He glanced over his shoulder at his friends one last time before sitting his plate and drink down on the table and sliding in next to her. “Hey,” he said quietly. “Sorry it took so long. Some of the other guys were asking me questions, like how we met and stuff.”
Cadence smiled. Most of the other high schoolers were staring at them now. Of course, they had been even before Brandon walked in; they were both extremely attractive strangers in a small town, hanging out in a restaurant that typically served teenagers. Now, however, Cadence could see a group of girls talking behind their hands, looking at Brandon and smiling. At least they weren’t ogling Aaron anymore, she thought to herself.
“That’s okay,” Cadence assured him. She leaned a little closer and whispered, “Those girls sure are checking you out!”
Brandon tossed his head back and gave her a sly smile. “Well, what can I say? The ladies want what they can’t have.” Cadence giggled and Brandon dug into his pizza, clearly famished after a very physical football game.
