Darkness Reborn

By Christy Poff

Lucien Andropov endures life altering changes when he runs afoul of a petty thief. What he learns from this encounter alters his entire outlook on life, and introduces him to perfection. Nadia Kavic has long been treated as inferior by her father by virtue of her birth, but when she meets Andropov, sparks fly and her life finds new meaning. Can Lucien and Nadia rise from the darkness reborn that's taking over their lives, or will her father's nefarious plans and Old World beliefs swallow them in its evil?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Torrid Books
• Release date: Apr 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781611601756

Book preview

Prologue

Lucien Andropov’s day started out as usual—he got up at dawn, reported to work as an agent principal de poliţie, an acting sergeant in his police district in southern Romania then he stopped at the local pub after his shift ended. Sitting at a table in the rear of the dining room, he enjoyed his ale and decided to order dinner. He signaled one of the girls waiting tables who told him she’d be with him in a minute.

That never happened.

Seconds after she went behind the bar, a man wearing a ski mask and brandishing a machine pistol walked in and calmly aimed the weapon in her direction.

I want everyone to put their hands where I can see them, he ordered.

Andropov tried to assess the situation quickly and figured he didn’t have much to work with. Outgunned for one thing, he counted too many people he did not want to risk losing if the guy decided to shoot the place up for any reason. He didn’t like the distance between where he sat and the gunman—the fact he’d be a large target didn’t sit well with him at all. How do I stop this?

The thief turned the gun on Andropov, a collective gasp rising from those in the pub.

You heard me—hands where I can see them or I can’t be sure of what I might do.

Please, Mister, one of the other patrons begged.

Did I say you could talk?

Andropov didn’t like the direction this had begun to take. At any time, the guy could freak out and kill everyone in the bar which made Andropov consider one of the worst-case scenarios. What is the perp on?

Turning back to the waitress, he waved his weapon at her again.

I want all the money, he ordered.

Quickly, she nodded as she opened the till, her hands shaking.

Here, take it, she said as she pushed the money across the polished wood of the bar.

The man grabbed the money then backed toward the door. As soon as he could, he ripped off the ski mask, threw it to the floor and fled the scene.

Andropov pulled his weapon as he ran after the thief.

Police officer! he announced. Call the station and report this. Tell them I am in foot pursuit of a tall male with dark hair who is armed and extremely dangerous.

The waitress nodded as she picked up the phone.

I want to report a robbery...

Andropov heard her make the call as he ran through the door to chase after the thief he saw running down the street toward the edge of the small town.

Halt, police! he yelled.

The man ignored him. Instead, he errantly fired, the wild rounds barely missing Andropov.

Continuing his foot pursuit while dodging even more bullets, Andropov followed the thief into the woods. The man zigged then zagged easily through the trees unable to lose Andropov who closed in on him thanks to knowing the woods as well as the man he pursued.

The man turned and fired several more shots at him though he missed. Andropov had lost count of the number of rounds fired but figured the gunman had to be nearing the end of the magazine in the gun unless he’d changed it out while running. His answer came when the man began to reload his weapon.

Andropov took the opportunity and chanced attacking the perp. The two men fought, their weapons lost in the scuffle.

Suddenly, instead of landing another punch to Andropov’s already aching face, the man did something so shocking that it shook the decorated police officer to his core. One minute the man had been trying to strangle him while beating his head into the hard ground and the next, his teeth sank deep into Andropov’s shoulder near the base of his neck.

You son of a bitch! Andropov screamed.

That’s right, the guy said. Enjoy the full moon from now on.

What the hell does that mean? Andropov demanded.

You’ll find out soon enough.

The sounds of tracking dogs and Andropov’s fellow officers became clearer. The man threw his head back and in the faint light, Andropov could see his own blood on his assailant’s mouth.

What the hell are you?

A shot rang out and the man dropped to Andropov’s side.

Tell me what you meant!

Go to Hell, the thief said seconds before he died.

Two of Andropov’s fellow officers ran up following their German shepherds.

Andropov, are you all right?

The bastard bit me, he said. Get me to the hospital quick!

Andropov passed out praying to God to save his life.

Our Father...

* * * *

Nadia Kavic worked as a nurse in the nearby hospital that served the villages and small towns surrounding it. Considering the area’s make-up, the hospital had been rated as one of the finest in the country, a reputation she worked hard to keep.

The door to the emergency room burst open as a small crowd of people brought in an injured man.

Gentlemen...

Ma’am, he’s been in a fight and the other guy bit him. He passed out right after we found him.

Bring him in here, she said, her mind racing. Who the hell bites their opponent these days unless...

He’s feverish and...

I’ll take care of him—don’t worry, she assured the officers who’d brought their comrade in. I’ll let you know how he’s doing as soon as I can but I need to be with my patient in order to do that.

Yes, ma’am, we’ll wait in the lounge.

She nodded then turned to her patient but heard a muttered comment from one of the men and snickered to herself.

Some guys have all the luck.

Ma’am? one of the junior nurses said as she entered the trauma room and waited for instructions.

Call Doctor Neillson, Nadia said. This case calls for his special talents.

Yes, ma’am. Right away...

Moments later, Nadia heard Neillson being paged. Not long after that, he walked into the room.

What do we have?

Nadia informed him then waited.

Close the door and draw the blinds.

Yes, Doctor, she said as she quickly did what he wanted then waited again.

We need to clean the wound then I need to get pictures. If the shape of the wound is what I think it is, we’ve got to get him out of here and to the manor house.

That’s why I had you paged.

Good call.

Working closely together, they tended the officer’s wounds. After taking a closer look at the bite mark, Neillson pulled out his cell phone, took a picture and sent it to someone at the manor house.

Get him ready to transfer. I want the wound cleaned again then bandaged. I’ll also need a blood sample to go so we can give it directly to our lab tech.

Yes, Doctor, right away.

Nadia?

Sir?

You did a good job. If this is what I think it is, you’ve just saved this officer’s life and a lot of questions.

What should I tell his colleagues?

Tell them we’re sending him to a hospital better equipped to handle this type of wound and the possibility of any blood disease due to the bite of an animal that may have been rabid.

But the one officer said he told them another man bit him.

Delirious and shocky.

Yes, sir, she said. I had not thought of that...

From what I’ve been hearing, the officer seems to be the only one they found at the site of the attack. This tells me the one who bit him shifted and escaped without being seen. Given the concern over the officer’s condition from his colleagues...

I see... she said. Interesting approach.

I’ll take care of putting you on special assignment. It will get you away from inquiring minds here plus the fewer people who know about this, the better.

Thank you, sir.

Nadia sighed, grateful for Doctor Neillson’s quick thinking. She definitely wanted to follow this case through to Officer Andropov’s recovery. A strange case to begin with, the implications of something greater not only intrigued her but made her want to see if her initial reaction had been correct—a fact confirmed in part by the doctor’s diagnosis and instructions for the man’s care.

Looking down at the officer while she cleaned and bandaged his neck and shoulder, Nadia studied his face for a moment. A handsome man, he didn’t strike her as being the patrolman type—no, she saw him as a businessman wearing designer suits instead of a uniform. Well, Officer Andropov, let’s get you on the road to recovery...

Chapter 1

Gasping for air, Lucien Andropov woke with a start bolting up in bed and looking around the room. It looked like a hospital room—the one in the nightmare he’d just had—the stage too familiar while not, if that could be possible.

He started to get out of bed and found himself nude. What the hell...

Looking at his reflection in a nearby mirror, he saw light bruising—evidence of a recent fight.

Yo, anyone out there? he yelled, hoping someone might come in to see how their patient fared.

Officer Andropov, I wouldn’t be trying to move around too quickly, a tall and very gorgeous brunette woman cautioned. You’ve suffered a major shock and we’re not sure how you’ll react to what happened.

What did happen?

In the pursuit of a robbery suspect, you fought with him as you tried to apprehend him. He apparently got the upper hand in the fight and left you bleeding in the snow.

How did I get here? he asked, not wanting to admit that his head now pounded.

Several men who work at the nearby lumberyard heard what happened and found you. After your fellow officers showed up, they took you to hospital but because of the nature of the injury to your neck, the doctors at that hospital had you brought here.

Why here?

You needed immediate medical treatment and we happened to be the closest. To be honest, we’re worried about any one of several blood diseases stemming from the man’s bite.

Bite? he asked, realizing full well his nightmare had been more than that—it turned out to be fact.

Officer?

I want to be alone, if you don’t mind.

I’ll be right outside if you need me.

I doubt I will.

Andropov watched the beauty leave him asking himself why he’d been nasty toward her. After all, she had a job to do and didn’t deserve attitude. He thought about a show he’d picked up on satellite television from the States where a nurse went after a man who’d tried to take advantage of her. When he ended up in the prison ward needing medical attention, she walked in and pulled out a needle. Right before she plunged the deadly sharp into his chest, she informed him that he’d messed with the wrong bitch. Note to self—don’t antagonize the nursing staff.

His hand went to his neck where he remembered the thief clamping his jaw down and... His mind reeled at the thought of the act but what made it worse—he could feel absolutely no indication that he’d been bitten. The skin felt smooth, not scabby nor did it have a bandage on it. And I should have a welt on the back of my head.

He couldn’t begin to comprehend why he felt nothing out of the ordinary. This only happens in the movies.

* * * *

Nadia sought out Doctor Neillson as soon as she left Andropov’s room. Concerned over his despondency and dreading that it might it intensify, she wanted the doctor to be aware of it before it got out of hand.

I’m worried about him, she said when she finally found him. He’s moody...

Which is to be expected considering he must deal with the fact that somebody bit him.

But I think he’s noticed there is no bandage over the wound or any evidence of his ever being bitten. He is already asking questions.

I guess the sooner, the better...

But is it wise to leave him alone? He could easily walk out of here and...

I see your point, Neillson said. I’ll take care of it immediately.

Neillson hurried off toward his office leaving Nadia to return to her desk near Andropov’s room. When she sat down at her desk, she quickly checked something on the Internet. Groaning, she paged Neillson.

When he joined her, he seemed a little exasperated with her but Nadia didn’t care.

Now, what?

I am sorry, sir, for bothering you again but I checked the calendar.

And?

Full moon is in four days—his first full moon.

Shit! he cursed. Forgive my impatience with you. I had not even considered the moon phases when treating him. Suffice it to say, he must not be left alone.

I will stay with him, she volunteered. I’ve been in on this since the beginning. He may be able to trust me a little bit more than another man whose reaction he may dread.

What do you mean?

As another male, you represent the strong versus the weak which he technically is. The last thing he needs is to have a peer make fun of him for his actions. I represent the mothering side and may be able to soothe his tortured soul, so to speak.

How long have you been nursing?

Several years but as you can tell, I’m a quick study.

Yes, and a very good one at that. I will talk to the administrator at the hospital and steal you away from them. Your talents are more suited for our medical specialties than run-of-the-mill scrapes and...

Thank you, sir, she said. I’d appreciate that.

As of now, Officer Andropov is your prime concern and only case.

Yes, sir.

He turned and entered Andropov’s room, Nadia watching from her desk. As much as she wanted to be in the room with them, she knew they needed men’s time with each other so Neillson could explain things to their patient. Neillson stood on the opposite side of the bed giving her an ample view of their conversation. This would give her an idea of the frame of mind Andropov might be in once Neillson