The Dark Arts of Blood by Freda Warrington Page B

the reality – the
shock
– and how close we both came to death…”
    “I appreciate your heroic efforts, Wolf, but the fact remains that you failed.”
    “What will you do with us?” Bruno blurted out.
    “What do you mean,
us
?” Wolfgang snapped, turning on him. “You’re the one who started this! I only tried to clear up your mess.”
    Reiniger breathed, looking at the smoke swirling above their heads. He was aware of them both shaking, as if awaiting a death sentence.
    How to deal with them?
    “This is so much more than
just
a film studio,
just
a political enterprise,” he said. “I can’t sustain our fellowship unless I can trust every single one of you.”
    “You can, sir,” Bruno said miserably, “but if you decide to expel me, I’ll go.”
    Reiniger stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder. Bruno nearly collapsed. He reeked of sweat and stale alcohol. “No, I don’t want to lose you. As one of my inner thirty, it would be a shame to waste your training.”
    “Truly?”
    Godric regarded his pathetic relief without emotion. Bruno was a useful workhorse, but Wolfgang Notz was much more. Godric could not look at him without a sting of resentment at his popularity. Also, his family was wealthy. He needed to keep Wolfgang loyal and under control, if only for the generous financial contributions he made to the cause.
    “The
strigoi
are a real and present threat. I need young men of spirit around me, and it’s natural they’ll want to drink and get rowdy – but last night, it went too far. I rely on you to keep them under control, Wolf. Yes?” Godric kept his tone firm but uncritical. “I rely on you.”
    “And I won’t let you down, sir.” Wolfgang stood like a soldier, as pale as whey.
    The vampire fed from him
, Godric thought with a shudder of revulsion and curiosity.
Was it the same one who came here? No, they said she was fair-haired. I’ve not seen a
strigoi
for years… and then four are seen in one night? What does this mean? How will this affect us? I have to get the upper hand, but how?
    “Rest, get your strength back,” he said in a businesslike tone. “I’ll worry about the missing
sikin
later. We have films to make, messages to promote, people to influence. We cannot afford distractions. Get out, both of you. Go.”
    The pair saluted and made a grateful rush for the door. Godric drew on his cigarette one last time and stubbed it out.
    A few minutes later he was in the projection booth, screening a reel from the new film he was editing,
Triumph in the Mountains
. Soon it would be ready for release.
    His previous feature,
The Lion Arises
– showing the heroism of a Swiss soldier in foreign lands – had been well received by his private audience. The “lion” referred to Lucerne’s famous statue of a dying lion. Godric was proud of the title’s obvious symbolism, that heroic, fallen Swiss soldiers would one day spring back to life and victory. The local dignitaries whose support he was cultivating had loved the film.
    The Lion Arises
was the fourth full-length movie he’d made. Unfortunately, none of his efforts so far had been acclaimed by the public. He had to pay for screening time at cinemas for the films to be seen at all. Criticism stung.
Audiences are used to trash from Hollywood or Germany
, he thought bitterly.
They need to be educated.
    This scene from
Triumph
showed Wolfgang in the role of self-sacrificing hero, vowing revenge on the villains who’d despoiled his bride. She was portrayed by his lead actress, Mariette, swooning beautifully in a blond wig. The Alps made a stunning background. Godric nodded in satisfaction. The drama was far ahead of its predecessor. Yes, the story was basically the same – a brave Swiss German defeating foreign invaders – but what other story was there? Godric would keep finding different ways to tell it until he achieved perfection.
    Next he would revive the tale of the ultimate Swiss hero, William Tell. Filming was