Enid stirred when she heard someone pounding on her door. Alina was wearing a night robe and slippers. She looked like she was just dragged out of bed herself. Enid looked up at her.

“What do you want Alina?”

“One of the girls has been compromised. Her handler is dead and she is in the wind.”

“I told you they weren’t ready.”

“Now is not the time for told you so, now is the time to eliminate her. I have a helicopter on the way. It will take you to the airport, there you will have access to a MIG-21, with air to air refueling. You will fly to East Germany, land. Get across the border and make your way to Paris. That is where she was last seen. We’re on the clock. The CIA is looking for her. Mission is kill her, kill any western assets that she spoke to, destroy all evidence.”

“So full clean up?”

Alina nodded.

“You can handle a supersonic jet, right?”

Enid laughed, picturing a MIG-21 next to Apollo.

“Yes, I can handle a MIG-21. How careful am I being?”

“I do not want this traced back to the USSR. But do what you need to end this quickly. You’ll have to gather your own weapons, the MIG-21 is a stripped-down two-seater built for speed and range. Special KGB model. Usually for pilot and agent, tonight its two agents.”

“You know I work alone.”

“You are taking Greta with you.”

“She’s a kid, also she sticks out, and she’s unproven.”

“She speaks fluent French. And the target has a relationship with her. It will put her at ease.”

“I want double my fee, half up front if I’m going to have to babysit that thick skulled neanderthal.”

Enid winced inwardly having to speak about her daughter that way, but the act needed to be maintained this would be their chance to get the hell out of Russia and track down her father.

“Agreed. Helicopter will be here in ten minutes.”

*****

Hazel was pulling on her clothes. She slapped a holo-web on the pack and slung it over her shoulders. She glanced to her Grandfather who had been chatting with her when Alina knocked on the door.

“Guess I’ll see you in London.”

He nodded and hugged her.

“Good luck.”

Hazel hugged him tightly again then ran out to get to the helicopter pad. When she got there she was surprised to see her mother. Alina handed Enid a few stacks of Soviet Currency. Hazel growled.

“You didn’t tell me it would be her.”

“A mission is a mission, you’ll need her for her contacts and her piloting.”

Hazel glared at her mother. Alina tugged on Hazel’s arm.

“Come I’ll give you a last-minute briefing.”

Alina pulled Hazel away from Enid. She lowered her voice.

“Anastasia has become…extraneous to our needs. Once the target is dealt with, kill her.”

Hazel nodded, letting a grin slip onto her lips.

“I thought you would be pleased.”

“Thank you for this chance, I won’t let you down.”

Alina motioned for her to join Enid. The pair glared at each other while waiting for the helicopter to land. Hazel got on first. Enid sat beside her and closed the side door. She pulled out the folder she’d been handed and flashlight and started reviewing the target list. It had three CIA agents and… Olga. She glanced at Hazel who quickly hid her look of surprise. Hazel also had a folder with the target list, some French and US currency along with British, US and French passports. The pair rode silently in the helicopter and when they landed they were rushed somewhere they could change into flight suits with helmets. The jet was fueled and ready, no armaments. Enid climbed in the pilot seat and Hazel climbed into the rear seat. Enid started going through her pre-flight checklist and Hazel assisted confirming the flaps were all working. She powered on the engine and slipped her oxygen mask on her face. Hazel followed suit and Enid spoke into the mic.

“Black Arrow ready for takeoff confirm refueling at 0600, 54, 25.”

“Refueling confirmed. You are cleared.”

Enid started to taxi and once she reached service ceiling went supersonic. Hazel was pressing her hands against the canopy her face white.

“If you’re going to throw up, don’t do it in your mask hon.”

Hazel shook her head.

“Just not used to…going this fast. Felt like you were trying to smush me into my seat.”

“No inertial dampeners on this baby.”

“Is this the fastest jet…never mind… I forgot about Apollo.”

“My F-22 was faster than this thing, not by much. We’re not even going that fast, not using the afterburner. We’d burn all of our fuel before we hit the air-to-air stop. I’m at the max supersonic speed we can hit without hitting the afterburners. Can’t use them for that long anyway, jet wasn’t meant for max afterburners for more than a few minutes at a time. Sorry I should have let you fly her. Didn’t even think.”

“Nah, I’m barely used to flying the MIG-17, this one is too fast.”

Enid chuckled.

“Scaredy cat”

“Alina wants me to kill you.”

“Some days I think you’d say yes. How am I doing tonight?”

“Well, I’m a wolf and you called me a cat so I’m edging towards following her orders.”

“How about Olga, are we going to be killing her?”

“I think we won’t be doing that.”

“She’d probably kill you.”

“I’m not her, am I?”

“How are we supposed to make her disappear?”

“Donno, but you’ll think of something.”

“Hey you’re a trained super spy now, why do I have to do all the work?”

“You’re the adult.”

“Very funny. I’m so glad we can talk, once we are across the border I’m going to give you the biggest hug.”

Hazel laughed. Enid shook her head.

“I can’t believe we kept up the act for almost two years. I guess we used it to work out some issues. You came up with some colorful insults.”

Hazel giggled.

“Well grandpa… oh uh you know he gave me some ideas back in like Gaul.”

“You lying… oh my god. How long?”

Hazel didn’t answer.

“Don’t make me barrel roll this fighter.”

Hazel didn’t answer then Enid started wiggling the stick. Hazel grabbed the edges of the canopy again.

“Two days after we started at the Retreat.”

“You…brat! Why? Why was I stuck in cold war Russia for two years?”

“I wanted to learn how to fly and drive…”

“I could have taught you that at home!”

“But you didn’t, I asked, you were always busy.”

Enid sighed.

“This isn’t over, but point taken.”

Enid fell into silence and Hazel happy her mother’s response hadn’t been explosive, just let her mother stew. After a while Enid spoke.

“He was Mr. Sedov wasn’t he?”

Hazel was snoring by this time and Enid sighed. She couldn’t believe her father had managed to hide under her nose for almost two years. She met up with the refueling tanker. It wasn’t as bad as she’d assumed. She broke away with a salute to the tanker pilots and continued towards the East German military base. She found herself jealous that Hazel could sleep on the trip. She was about an twenty minutes out when she heard Hazel start stirring.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“Most of the flight.”

“How much longer?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Twenty minutes. Feel better?”

“Yea.”

“Hey mom, who were you trying to send me to in Russia? That book?”

Enid laughed.

“I rescued her and other children from a concentration camp. Which reminds me, we need to stop on the way to Paris. I want some back up.”

“Wait you rescued people from concentration camps? Of course, you did. You’re you. To hear Eyre, talk about it you were a sociopath…before well before.”

“I may have been a Reaper, but I still had a heart. Fuck Nazis. They were kids. Slips of things. Skin and bones. Forced to do hard labor until they died. People call vampires monsters.”

“How did you do it? You didn’t have your amulet.”

“Killed the guards, stole a truck stuffed them in it. They were like sardines but got them. It was near the Russian border, got them across it. Russians owed me a favor. They took them in. Most of them have kids of their own now.”

“What were you doing in the middle of a war?”

“What I do best.”

“Killing people?”

“Hey, I saved your tribe of wolf-born. Nazis were going after the sacred pond, now I understand I was saving my mother and Lucius too. Bloodseeker could slice through tanks like butter. Between me and the wolf-born didn’t stand a chance. Especially with me at full power. Unlike now, fuck being mortal.”

“Mom, you don’t need to be a vampire.”

“What?”

“I’m just saying, maybe you’re mortal for a reason? Maybe God is trying to tell you that he can cure you, you just have to accept it. I mean you parted the red sea as a living breathing mortal.”

“God can stuff is cure up his ass, I like being vampire. Blood tastes good. I’m the ultimate predator not this…weak ass get shot and I die bullshit.”

“Well you’re not exactly mortal, you heal fast, you don’t age and you parted the red sea.”

“The red sea was borrowed power. I had to use the staff, so it was probably God.”

“I think you underestimate your power mom.”

“We’re getting close to landing. So, we’re enemies again for now.”

Enid banked and started her descent.

*****

The East German ground crew were surprised to see to teenage girls climb out of the specialized MIG-21. A woman in a Stasi uniform approached the pair and offered her hand to Enid. It was Irena.

“Anna, nice to see you again in better circumstances. And you must be Greta. Strange bedfellows hmm?”

Hazel shook Irena’s hand.

“If I’m lucky I’ll be able to kill her on this trip.”

Irena chuckled.

“I prepared a car for you. This way.”

She motioned for the pair to follow her and spoke as they walked.

“I was hoping perhaps you could assist us with something while you’re here. I know you need to get across the border. Perhaps you could assist us with finding the passage some radicals are using.”

“As long as you’re funding the bribe.”

Irena chuckled again.

“You are always looking out for number one Anna.”

“No one else will. If you know where to find them, why don’t you just take them out?”

“They are cagey. Hard to follow. Just want you to phone us and tell us where the entrance is when you get to the other side. You can meet them at the Hollow. It’s an underground bar. Codeword is: Raven.”

“Fine I’ll find your mules.”

Irena nodded and motioned to a black Trabant.

“Money for your passage is in the back seat. Just park the car near the Hollow.

Enid wink at Irena and got in the passenger seat, Hazel hunched into the driver’s seat and started the car. A cloud of smoke poured out of the exhaust and Irena waved to the pair. Enid closed her eyes and smiled as Hazel struggled to get the car into gear. She eventually started laughing.

“What’s so funny mom? I know how to do this.”

“If this was one of your video games the difficulty of driving a Trabant would be nightmare.”

Hazel sighed.

“Do you want to do it?”

“Hell no, I’m going to sleep for the drive to Berlin. I just flew for way too long on no sleep. You got this.”

Hazel growled as the car surged forward coughing out more smoke.

“Who designed this piece of shit anyway.”

“Well communist countries were never known for their amazing cars.”

Enid pulled a fedora out of her bag and pulled it down over her eyes. Hazel kept glancing at her map as she drove to East Berlin. Her mother didn’t stir in her sleep for the entire trip. Which took longer than the flight from Moscow. Hazel parked the car she was lost once they hit East Berlin.

“Mom.”

Enid took a few shakes to wake up she pulled her black fedora off and looked at her daughter.

“What?”

“I have no idea where I’m going. I had a highway map but not a city map.”

Enid sighed and brought up her holo-display and tapped directions into it then swept them towards Hazel. Hazel blinked when the direction appears on the HUD her contacts created for her.

“Hotel first, we’ll grab some sleep. Get changed into something…more appropriate for the criminal underworld.”

“Thanks mom.”

Enid grumbled and turned off her holo-display put the fedora over her eyes again and fell asleep. Hazel shifted the car into gear again it jerked and surged kicking out another cloud of smoke. Hazel had thought their car just sucked but most of the other cars on the road were the same. She found the Hotel Berolina and pulled into a parking spot. She shook her mother again.

“Mom. We’re at the hotel.”

Enid pulled her fedora off and put it in her pack. She got out of the car without a word. Hazel grabbed the bag with the money in it from the back seat and followed her mother inside. Enid showed her KGB credentials, Hazel did the same. Enid figured it would keep the Stasi off their backs. She offered up enough German currency for a room with two beds for two nights. They were offered the keys wordlessly.

*****

Enid was stepping into her armor when Hazel stirred. She pulled her arms into it and sealed the front seam. Hazel rubbed her eyes.

“Mom why are you putting on armor?”

“Gonna use the holo-web for clothes.”

“Isn’t that risky?”

“We’re about to go into the lions den, if these people smell a rat they will likely not wait for an explanation. Stasi were not exactly someone you wanted to be captured by.”

“So, we’re working for the bad guys?”

“How has it taken you this long to realize that? Did you see the fear in the clerks’ eyes when he saw our KGB credentials? Which reminds me, all your Soviet ID in the pack now.”

Hazel gathered all her ID and put it into the pack.

“What if we get pulled over?”

“We’re not going to get pulled over, and if someone tries, we run, and we fight.”

Enid pulled out two Tokarev pistols and handed one to Hazel who checked the clip and safety like she had been taught. She formed a holster from her armor and slide it into it.

“Really?”

“Killing Stasi will go a long way to proving we’re not with them.”

“Won’t that upset Alina and company?”

“Probably but its not like we’re going back there, are we?”

Enid put the holo-web around her neck and tapped it. She then appeared to be dressed as a typical East German woman the flickering on the outfit stopped as she moved around rapidly to force it to adapt. Hazel did the same.

“What’s the plan mom?”

“You just spent two years learning how to be a super spy and you’re asking me?”

“You’ve been doing this for longer.”

“And you’ll never learn if you don’t do. So, what’s our play hon?”

“Uh… we go pay them the cash for passage.”

“And who are we?”

“I don’t know.”

Enid poked Hazel’s forehead.

“I taught you better then this.”

“Can’t we just use camo mode on the armor and climb the wall?”

“We could but that eats up charge very quickly.”

“What is this place like?”

“Its filled with Hippies…who aren’t all peace and love. They are counterculture to East Germany, completely underground. They like stuff like Jefferson Airplane, Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Bombers, Bleeding edge for the times, especially in Communist countries. Its an old bomb shelter under a burnt-out church that was destroyed in the war. Strictly controlled entrance, kind of place attacking would be costly for the authorities. Also has tunnels they can flee into.”

“So, you know about it? Why did you ask Irena why they didn’t go after them then?”

“Because the less she knows the better?”

“And I’ve never heard any of those bands.”

“Yesh, I have been really bad at giving you a musical education.”

“Yes, you have. What is a song by the Bombers?”

“Immortal. They wrote it about me.”

“What?”

“I spared them when they convinced me no one would believe them because they were using so much LSD. A vampire told them all about us, idiot. Killed the vampire but killing mortals because someone blabbed rarely sat well with me. And one of the bastards was immune to memory erasure. One of them figured out I was Lady Sarah, apparently he grew up in my old castle. Wrote the song Immortal and top of the charts.”

Enid shrugged.

“That’s funny.”

“Glad you think so. What’s funnier is what people thought it was about. Anyway, they look like hippies but they aren’t, so don’t fuck around.”

“So, they’ll know you there, right?”

“Yes but…fine. But if I deal with this you get transport in West Berlin and you drive.”

“Deal.”

Hazel tried to give the car key to Enid who hook her head and refused to take it.

“Mom why are you making me drive?”

“Because shifting a car like this is out of my current physical capabilities as a mortal.”

“Liar.”

Enid got in the passenger seat and Hazel got in the driver’s seat. The car got off to its usual shuddering start and Hazel went other of her way to avoid hills. They parked in a parking lot. Enid slide the pack over her shoulders and slapped a holo-web on it to conceal it. Hazel slung the satchel of money over her shoulder and the pair made their way to the secret stairs down beside a house. It led to a tunnel. Enid knew the way well and they reached a door. She knocked four times then twice more a few seconds later. The door opened and a blond man the size of Hazel opened the door. His eyes were focused on Hazel’s then he looked down when Enid cleared her throat, she spoke in German.

“Hey Decker.”

“Lina! I thought you were dead.”

“Sometimes its good to be dead hmm?”

“And who’s this?”

“Her name is Hazel. I’ll vouch for her.”

He glanced both ways down the tunnel and motioned with his head for the pair to enter. His eyes lingering on Hazel as she walked behind Enid. They got closer they could start hearing a beat. Hazel had been expecting a dingy concrete tomb atmosphere, but there were lights everywhere. A bar and a band playing on the stage. Enid stopped dead in her tracks and swore under her breath. Hazel looked back at her mother.

“What’s wrong?”

“Of all the fucking bad luck.”

“What?”

“That’s the Bombers.”

Enid dove for the bar she sat down and hid her face with her hair. Hazel was so busy staring up at the five people on the stage to notice her mother’s sudden disappearance. She looked around and sat down beside her.

“They probably won’t even notice you, there’s like three hundred people down here.”

Hazel pointed at a keg and held up two fingers and put some cash on the bar. Hazel chugged hers. Enid started nursing hers. Hazel glanced at her mother when the band finished their song.

“They sound pretty good. I’m glad you didn’t kill them all.”

Enid nodded. Her cheeks went red when she heard the lead singer speaking in English.

“We have a special treat for you tonight. Of all the bars in the world, she walked into this one. It must be destiny. The girl who sang the vocals on our recording of Immortal is at the bar drinking a beer. We’d love for her to join us for a few songs.”

Enid swore under her breath. People started looking at her. She sighed and glanced at Hazel.

“Sure, they won’t notice me. At all. So much for a low profile.”

Hazel started pointing at Enid.

“She’s right here.”

Enid glared at her daughter she mouthed the words you’re so dead. Hazel just smiled at her. Truth be told her mother didn’t sing much anymore and she missed it.

“Just a few songs for me? Your number one fan?”

Enid stood up and walked to towards the stage.

“Edward surprised to see you in East Germany.”

“There she is. As beautiful as she is deadly.”

One of the techs working the show rushed up with a microphone. Enid smiled but inside she was cringing, for the Enid that let them live, it would have been four years but for her was over a century.

“I guess that’s a yes she’s going to sing.”

Enid nodded.

“Yes, Edward, though I might kill you after the show.”

Everyone laughed. Enid was only half joking. Hazel stood up, whistled and cheered. Enid pointed at her.

“I might add her to the list.”

The crowd laughed and Enid saw a beer slid towards Hazel. She smiled at her daughter. If there was beer or ale her hand would rarely be empty. Edward smiled at Enid and the banded started up the song Immortal. When the song finished the crowd was cheering wildly. Enid was going to try and make her escape. Edward held up his hand.

“Who would like her to join us for the rest of the show?”

Hazel shouted over the crowd.

“Yes!”

The crowd started to cheer and chant. Enid sighed and took her spot next to Edward. The band finished the set and an encore. Enid was a great singer, but she was exhausted after the show. She was used to singing as a vampire. She would have been drenched in sweat head to toe if not for armor. After the show Enid and Hazel were invited backstage. Edward was drinking water. Enid poured herself a glass and downed it, then another. The band blinked at her, finally everyone was sitting down and chatting. They had some fans back there as well. The women couldn’t keep their hands off the band. Edward pulled Enid aside.

“Thanks so much. Man, the live recording is going to sell like crazy with you on it.”

Enid frowned at him.

“We were trying to keep a low profile.”

“Aww, sorry I thought you came to see us.”

Enid laughed.

“No, if I’d known I’d have found a way not to be here. We’re just here trying to get passage west.”

“Oh man, don’t worry about that. The crew and I are heading back across tonight. You can come with.”

Enid shrugged.

“Sounds good to me.”

“Trouble is, our guide is kind of paranoid, she probably knows you, looks like the crowd did but your friend…”

“She is my daughter.”

“Shit, no way? Man! She really wanted to see you on stage. She was cheering the loudest. We should have got her up too.”

Enid shook her head.

“You really don’t want to hear her sing. She got a lot for me but her singing voice is her fathers.”

Edward laughed. A woman came through a door at the back of the room. She was wearing a black jump suit. She nodded to Edward. He spoke to Enid.

“Noted. Noted.”

He whistled. The rest of the band looked at him.

“Time to go boys.”