Whispers in the Dark Read online

  Whispers In The Dark

  Niranjan

  First published by Geetha Krishnan 2021

  * * *

  Copyright © 2021 by Niranjan K

  * * *

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  * * *

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  * * *

  Niranjan K (Geetha Krishnan) asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  * * *

  Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

  * * *

  First Edition ISBN 978-1-3933454-5-9

  * * *

  Editing by Fair Editions

  Cover Art by Fablo Krieger, Bravo Covers

  Formatted by J.E. Mueller

  To my daughter

  Happy birthday. I hope you enjoy reading about Ray and Alistair as much as I enjoyed creating them.

  * * *

  To my son

  This was finished at the time I lost you. It is bittersweet going through it. I love you.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  About the Author

  Also by Niranjan

  Chapter One

  The ringing of the telephone jolted Ray out of deep sleep. He stared balefully at it for a moment before grabbing it. The number was unknown, but it was 3 am and who was going to call at this hour unless it was urgent? He still didn't feel fully awake, and he wanted to reject the call and go back to sleep, but what if? He accepted the call, saying, “Whoever you are, I hope you have a good enough reason for waking me up at this hour.”

  “Raymond Haspel?” It was an unfamiliar voice, and Ray suppressed a groan.

  “Duh,” he said. “Wasn't it my number that you called?”

  “I'm Magnus.”

  The soft-spoken words effectively banished all sleep, and explained, at least in part, the reason for the hour of call. “And what does the head of the Vampire Council want with me?”

  “We need your help.” Magnus replied.

  “A vampire wants a hunter's help.” Ray didn't try to hide his disbelief.

  “It is your skills as a hunter that we need.” Magnus said as if he hadn't noticed Ray's disbelief. “I'm outside your house right now. I-”

  “Is that a threat?” Ray interrupted.

  “Mr. Haspel, let us not insult each other's intelligence or abilities. I'm here because I wish to meet you in person. I've sent something to your phone.” Ray's phone chimed. “Please look through them. I'll wait.” The line went dead.

  Typical vampire arrogance. He opened the message Magnus had sent him and stared at the photographs. Four of them, with dates and places.

  “Fuck!” he muttered.

  He dropped the phone on to the bed and started getting dressed. Magnus certainly knew how to get his attention. He picked up his phone and put it in his pocket before leaving the room. He opened the front door cautiously. Only a fool would trust a vampire blindly. Magnus was standing outside the gate. Small, thin, almost reedy and bespectacled, he looked nothing like what anyone would take the head of a vampire council to be. He looked like an accountant which was what he was in his day job. Quite helpful in staying off the radar.

  Ray stayed in the porch and beckoned him to come closer. Magnus approached the house, stopping short of the steps. Ray stayed on the top step.

  “I'm assuming you don't plan to invite me in.” Magnus said.

  “As you said, let's not insult each other's intelligence.” Ray took out his phone and showed Magnus the images he had sent him. “Rogue vampire?”

  Magnus nodded. “I've kept it out of the media, but I'm not sure how long I'll be able to do that. If he's not found, the entire vampire community is at risk of exposure.”

  “And that is my problem how?”

  “It isn't, but I would have thought you'd be concerned for his victims. Aren't you hunters bound by an oath to protect the innocent?”

  Magnus had a point. Rogue vampires were always dangerous. More so to humans than to vampires who often managed to use their mind control to escape attention. “Not since the treaty between vampires and hunters, as you know.” Ray said calmly. “Rogue vampires are your responsibility.”

  “Usually, yes, but,” Magnus looked at him, and sighed. “We are unable to identify or trace him.”

  That surprised Ray. Vampires had their unique ways of tracking their own. And if they couldn't, it meant, “He’s killed his sire.” Ray murmured.

  “That seems likely. Or he's so old that he knows how to mask the bond between him and his sire or he’s grown powerful enough to break it. Either way, it's not possible for us to find him.”

  “And you think I can?”

  “You're a hunter.”

  “And what do you think I'm going to do to him once I find him?”

  “Hand him over to us as per the terms of the treaty.”

  Ray chuckled. “No. The treaty says we're to hand over any rogue vampires we may come across accidentally, it doesn't say we should hand over a vampire we've hunted.”

  “He has to face our justice.” Magnus said, his tone insistent.

  “Then you find him yourself.” Ray turned to go.

  “Don't you care for the people he may kill?” Magnus asked.

  Ray half turned. “I do, which is why I'm going to hunt him down and kill him. I'm a hunter after all.”

  “You don't understand!” Magnus said. “You know why the treaty was made. Do you want a war?”

  “And as I said, I won't be violating any of the terms of the treaty. If you don't want me killing him, then I suggest you find him before I do.”

  Ray was beginning to be angry. What the hell did Magnus think of
himself? Ray was a hunter, and this was a vampire attacking humans. Did he honestly think he was going to hand him over to them? Did he think Ray didn't know what vampire justice entailed? Or that he didn’t know what the treaty actually said? A vampire attacking humans meant that hunters could take him out, and they had killed a fair bit over the centuries, with never a fuss made. Yet, here was Magnus, trying to fool him.

  “Name your price.” Magnus said as he reached the door.

  He whirled around. “What the fuck!”

  Magnus removed his glasses and his eyes met Ray’s, all the intensity and power of the vampire boring down on him. “Everyone has a price. Name yours.”

  “If you think-” Ray started, furious.

  “Don't give me platitudes.” Magnus interrupted. “There has to be something you want that we can give you.”

  Ray stared at him. “You bastard.” he said softly.

  He was still angry, but it was tinged with a grudging respect. Magnus knew. Of course he did. The only thing that was in doubt was how much influence he had over Alistair who was more of a lone wolf. But what had he to lose? After all, Magnus wouldn’t have offered if it was an utter impossibility.

  Magnus' face remained impassive.

  “All right,” Ray said. It might not be the best decision, but it was going to be worth it. “Alistair. I want him to break the bond between us. Once it is done, I am ready to swear to hand over the Rogue to you. No provisos, no conditions on either side.”

  Magnus nodded. “I'll see what I can do.”

  “You better do it before I find your rogue,” Ray said.

  Magnus inclined his head slightly before vanishing. Ray stood there, watching the spot where the vampire had been. He shrugged and huffed out a laugh.

  “Damn vampires!”

  Chapter Two

  The police station was a small building, which more or less belied its importance. From his observations at various times, Ray knew no less than thirty people worked there. Inspector Brad Surrey who led the team of policemen was the most celebrated and successful cop in the city. No surprise since he was also a vampire. One among the lower echelons, but still useful.

  “Ray Haspel,” the Inspector greeted him, not looking happy. Surrey was large, and almost corpulent which belied the speed with which he could move if needed. “Magnus says I’m to give you whatever help you need.”

  It was surprising that Magnus could have guessed his move, but perhaps it shouldn’t have been. Their investigations almost always started with what the law enforcement knew, so Magnus would certainly have known he would approach Surrey.

  “Magnus told you about the vampire serial killer?” Ray asked as he took the seat opposite the broad desk separating him from the vampire.

  “That’s one way to put it, I guess.” Surrey muttered. “But no, I was the one who apprised him of the situation. Approaching you was the council’s decision, of course.”

  Ray could have surmised as much, but he didn’t say it. Instead, he asked, “I’m assuming you’re not in charge of the investigation.”

  “It happened in Criston, as a matter of fact.” Surrey said. “We have a man there, and he informed me and I informed Magnus. The authorities there are in charge.”

  “And there’s no doubt that it was a vampire?”

  Surrey shook his head. “None. We know it when we see it. Grimes, the man we have there, talked to the neighbours and partners of the victims. No one has heard or seen anything. Everyone was asleep. One of the neighbours suffer from chronic insomnia. Even he was asleep like the dead.”

  “So, the killer put everyone to sleep.” Ray muttered. “Used his vampire powers. But how did he gain entry into the houses of the victims?”

  “Hypnotised a partner? Or a housekeeper?” Surrey shrugged. “I don’t know really. I only got the pictures and enough details to convince me that it was a vampire. My job ended when I got the word to the council and they didn’t ask me to investigate.”

  “They have to be powerful.” Ray said, not answering the last part of the question. Magnus must have had his reasons for coming to a hunter, and Ray wasn’t going to speculate on them. “They managed to put more than one household to sleep.”

  Surrey nodded, face tense.

  “Do you have any details about the victims? What they do, where they live, anything?”

  Surrey shook his head. “You’ll have to contact Grimes for those details. Magnus would have apprised him too, so he’ll help you. I’ll give you his number and the station address.”

  Surrey picked up his phone and a moment later Ray’s phone chimed. Ray picked up to see that he has received a new contact, William Grimes and a text with an address in Criston.

  “I don’t know if I should be concerned or flattered that you have my number saved in your phone.” he remarked as he rose.

  Surrey chuckled, though it was strained. “What kind of cop would I be if a Haspel lived in my city and I didn’t have his details?”

  Ray gave him a smile before leaving his cabin. Once outside, he looked at the address in his phone. Criston was a two-hour drive in moderate traffic and it was anything but at this hour. He had nothing else to do, though. He would have a spot of lunch and head off to Criston and meet Grimes. Ray went to the restaurant at the corner from his flat, and as he sat down, his phone rang. He swore under his breath as he saw the number.

  “Anton,” he greeted, answering the call. “I'm a bit busy.”

  “Aren't you always?” His brother's voice held resignation. “This can't wait, I'm afraid. Dad's in hospital. He's had a heart attack.”

  He gripped the handset tight, his mind suddenly empty of all thought. There was a roaring sound in his ears and everything around was suddenly blurry.

  “Ray?” Anton's voice was very loud and Ray winced. “Are you there?”

  “Y…yes,” Ray cleared his throat twice. “How... How is he?”

  “The doctors say it's too early to tell. He's in the intensive care.”

  He wanted to drop everything and catch the next flight to Vrelsk, but how could he leave? This investigation was important, but what if Dad- this could be his last chance of seeing his father alive. “How's Mom?”

  “How do you think?” Anton's voice was tired. “Pretending to be unaffected, so we won't worry. As if we don't know her.”

  “Are you in Vrelsk?”

  “Yeah, I’m. Uncle Gary called me as soon as Dad was taken to the hospital last night. Dan said he'll be reaching tomorrow. Eve is still in Amalfen, so she may not reach for a couple of days.”

  Anton was speaking too fast, and Ray could sense why. His brother always did this when he was anxious. Just talking as if he was afraid of the silence and wanted to fill it up. “Anton, why is everyone coming?”

  Ray was worried. Did that mean Dad was worse than Anton let on? Dan okay, at least he was in the same country, but if Eve was flying home as well, and Anton had contacted him… suddenly it felt as if the small restaurant had become airless.

  “I don't know, I just...” Anton sighed. “I panicked, okay? Uncle Gary called me because I live nearest. But I've never... heck, I'm the youngest! Why the hell aren't you or Dan here? I’m not equipped to deal with this!”

  Ray was silent. What could he say?

  “What is so urgent anyway?” Anton asked.

  “A rogue vampire has been killing humans and Magnus wanted me to find him. They're not able to trace him.”

  “He must have killed his sire.” Anton said. “Old ones really don't go rogue, at least not openly. They won't let their kills be noticed.”

  It made sense. Anton might be younger than him, but he had more experience and knowledge. Compared to the rest of his family, all Ray had was the Haspel name.

  “Can't the hunt wait?” Anton asked after a moment. “I know it’s important, but is it urgent? We… I… I really need you, Ray.”

  There was a pleading note to Anton’s voice, and Ray pinched the bridge of his nose. Could the hunt
wait? If the vampire killed again, that would be on him. There was also the fact that the vampire could strike anytime and Ray hadn't even started his investigation yet. Wasn't it presumptuous of him to assume he could stop it so quickly? Perhaps he could get some of the legwork done today, and see if he could find some kind of pattern or reason.

  “I'll catch the next flight out.” he said. “I'll try and catch the connection that Eve is taking, so we can travel together.” It had been a while since he had seen his sister.

  His appetite gone, Ray ate mechanically. He hadn't been to Vrelsk in seven years. Not since he turned twenty-one again. He tried not to think of it. Of everything that had happened, of Alistair. Where was Alistair? Had he returned to his house in Vrelsk? He had not even visited for the five years after… Ray shouldn't be thinking of that. He should be thinking of Dad or of the rogue he was hunting, anything and anyone except Alistair. It was possible he was still away from Vrelsk. Was he even in Verlod? It was a big country. Ray signalled the waiter for the bill. If he was going home, he needed to pack and book his tickets. Why was it that everything was always so last minute with him?

  Chapter Three