Between the two vampires, they carried the fallen Kolya up the stairs and into Pyotr's room. Their reasoning was that perhaps, maybe, Kolya would feel the presence of Pyotr. It was worth a try. None of their other actions had proven to be successful. Stephanos' brows were knit with worry and his pallor was more noticeable than usual. Everyone was grim-faced and silent as they watched the two men, so still in their shared bed. No movement. Barely showing signs of breathing. Tension was thick, fear reflected in the eyes of all present.
"Stephanos, there is something else I could try." Marianna said in a small voice. "If we could find some leeches for a bloodletting, perhaps that might help."
"My dear, sweet Marianna. I know that you don't have much knowledge of what it means to be a vampire in its truest sense, but Luka's blood should be helping Pyotr. And Kolya! My God, how do I reach him? I need to think!" Stephanos had started softly, but grew louder by the end of his speech. "What manner of God would do this?" With that, he strode from the room without a backwards glance.
Marianna was crestfallen. She trembled from the manner in which Stephanos had just spoken to her and his lack of faith. She touched the tiny gold cross that swung from around her neck. Her lips were tremulous, her body shaking with suppressed feeling. Her emotions overwrought by all that had happened, causing a return of the tears to her eyes. Everyone else was uncomfortable with the venom in which Stephanos had unwittingly spoken with. Nadia moved to her new friend to lay a comforting arm around her shoulder. Marianna's face showed such an expression of hurt; she shrugged it off negligently and quietly left the room. Nadia whirled on Luka in that moment.
"Luka, go talk some sense into him. Now! His poison will cause a further deterioration around him, including his relationship with Marianna. He cannot fall apart. He is needed. There is much to be done." With that she dismissed him from her mind as she went to the bed to help her mother care for the two invalids. With the lightest caress she gentled Pyotr's brow that was still so hot to the touch. Irina had stripped Kolya out of his clothing with the help of Aleksandr, in an effort to make him more comfortable. He didn't move at all. Didn't blink. He just stared sightlessly at the ceiling. Irina continued to cross herself and pray for both of them.
*****
Luka strode through the house, seeking out Stephanos. At the faint music distantly playing, he knew where to find him. He moved in the direction of the small music conservatory, where Stephanos was thundering away on the beautifully kept harpsichord. Luka stopped at the entrance a small smile tugging his lips, remembering that Stephanos had always played superbly and when he was disturbed, with intensity that rivaled the finest composers. The melody was dark, haunted and filled the room with his agitation. The notes jangled in the air as he relentlessly manipulated the instrument to bring forth the weeping sounds. After a few minutes of observing his grieving friend, Luka stepped into the room.
"Stephanos! You must stop this! Talk to me. Help me find a way to bring both Kolya and Pyotr back." Luka was patient as he stood close the man. Stephanos didn't stop immediately. He built crescendo upon crescendo of the throbbing composition until with a shudder, he finished. Dropping his hands and forehead to the keys, he gasped for breath.
"Here. Take the wine I have brought you. Maybe it will calm your nerves a bit." Luka thrust the glass at Stephanos, who took it and drank greedily for a moment, before placing it back into Luka's hand.
"Luka, thank you. But I need a clear head." Stephanos wiped his brow and looked at his friend, haggardness evident in his features. "Why, Luka? Why is this happening? If I had not desired Marianna so, none of this would have happened! It was her grief that called to me initially, but how could I pass up a one such as she? She is my heart! She is my soul! And, if I hadn't rescued her, who knows what fate would have befallen her at Ivan's hands? But at what cost? Kolya is lost to me at the moment. Pyotr wounded, close to death? And I am helpless!" Stephanos dropped his forehead into his hands and started a fearsome lament.
"My friend, I am not the person to ask about grief. But I am here for you and so is Marianna, as are the rest." Luka hugged Stephanos to him as he slid onto the bench next to him. "Stephanos, please try and pull yourself together. We need to resolve this together. You must help! Or all could be lost! Come; let us find Marianna for you. She was so hurt by your handling of her."
"I didn't mean to hurt her, Luka. I would be lost without her." Stephanos said in a low, pained voice. The love he felt for her evident in his words.
"Then let us seek her out." Luka stood decisively and waited for Stephanos to do the same.
*****
They left the conservatory and returned to the bedroom, thinking that Marianna would be there. But she wasn't. After speaking briefly with the troubled Nadia and Irina, they learned that she hadn't returned. So, they used their senses to seek out her presence in the house. Nothing of her lingered in the air. Growing concerned, they sought out the grounds, still nothing. The fresh breeze blowing off the waters and the lingering rain had caused any scents to disperse. At least it wasn't thundering and storming any longer. Stephanos called for Zoya and Kirill, but the hounds did not present themselves. Stephanos was growing more and more alarmed, his agitated pacing doing nothing to relieve his tension. They spread out further and further apart, searching.
Luka was checking the back of the manor near the edge of the cliffs and Stephanos had gone to the barn to see if Marianna was there. His shriek of outrage reached Luka, who immediately arrived at his side. Seeing only one horse, Stephanos knew she was gone. His disbelief etched his face and his rage threatened to boil over.
