Danse Macabre in Valdai
Simon Magus and Longinus also enlist an Mi38 Kazan Executive helicopter to get them up the “Moscow-St. Petersburg / M10″ aerial route to Valdai. Even in the fading daylight hours they can see the magnificent Valdaysky National Park below them to the East and Lake Uzhin to the West. Rolling hills and deep forests surround them, interrupted by occasional Dachas and what are clearly State Security Radar installations. The President of Russia himself has a Dacha here – and these skies are never free of surveillance.
Longinus breaks into The Masters’ concentrated stare at the terrain below to discuss something that is weighing on his mind.
“It concerns me that we are flying with Russian clearances through a heavily guarded stretch of geography. The Bloodsuckers won’t have the clearances that we do to get Russian State Security Radar passage through this region – Novgorod Oblast. They will probably attempt an overland route. We should have BratvaVarang forest rangers saturate the woods surrounding Madame Kuznetzova’s Pink Marble Palace…..”
Simon Magus nods in the affirmative.
“I’ve considered that possibility. If they use an overland route, they’ll have to travel at night – and conceal themselves during day. I’ve got BratvaVarang people behind every tree and staked out at every farm, Forest Station and neighboring Dacha within a radius of ten Kilometers. Our men are all outfitted with special ultra-violet night-vision cams to track movements of bipedal signal returns with below-normal heat signatures. They also have silver nitrate ammunition and machetes. Everybody is microphoned-up and wearing trackers so we can get a location fix on them instantly. Night is almost upon us.
I want to see a bonfire of Bloodsucker heads before this mission is over. And from now on we take the girl and keep track of her. I’ve already gotten Russian preliminary approval to act as her legal Guardian and Madame Kuzneztova can be persuaded to accompany her young ingénue to whatever secure location we decide on. My BratvaRus contacts assure me that Prima Ballerina Kuznetzova is a Russian Patriot who will spare no effort to aid her motherland.”
Longinus is satisfied that any weak links in their strategic chain have been addressed and nods his scarred face in approval.
Soon the Mi38 Kazan Helicopter is descending. They land next to two other identical rotorcraft – Heinlein and Leeds are already here. Simon Magus and Longinus make their way to the palatial residence, guided by their BratvaVarang communications engineer, Josip Popovic.
In minutes they are joined by Heinlein and Leeds – who are already in tactical gear and wearing new SR-2 Udav 9X21MM “Boa” Russian military sidearms. Simon Magus and Longinus are outfitted in their usual black Persian “Assassanid” gear. They’re fully hooded and caped – and in possession of their weapons of choice – Simons’ Seax and The Centurian’s Gladius.
The Master wastes no time in giving Heinlein and Leeds their brief.
“Longinus and I – as usual – will hunt alone. Both of you stay close to Major Stjepan Markovic – he’s nominally in charge of the operation. Follow his lead – he has many years’ experience fighting Chechens in the Caucasus and is one of the most fearless BratvaVarang soldiers I’ve ever met. Stay nearby him and learn how we fight Vampyres in combat. And be careful – there are many things you don’t know about these cursed Demons”.
The Magus and Longinus are whisked away by Engineer Popovic to examine the regal Ballet Amphitheater where Madame Kuznetzova and Katya practice so unrelentingly. They no sooner leave when Heinlein and Leeds are approached by a lean, intense man who has the unmistakable bearing of a career soldier. He’s about forty – but by the looks of his weathered face, his actual age is debatable. If his years are measured by experience, the man has seen it all. He sharply salutes Heinlein and Leeds.
“I am Major Stjepan Markovic – you’re assigned to my unit. We’ll be breaking into small tactical groupings. These groupings will position in dark areas giving line-of-sight access to corridors that we seek to funnel the Vampyres into. Madame Kuznetzova will be in the main Ballet Amphitheatre engaged, as usual, in practice with Katya. This is the Vampire destination. We’re going to herd them into the theaters’ direction. The Vampyre cohort seeks to get inside the Ballet Amphitheatre and complete their slaughter of the Prima Ballerina and Katya.
Our mission is to stop the Vampyres from getting possession of Katya, protect Madame Kuznetzova and decapitate the entire troupe of Bloodsuckers. We will burn their heads after the mission has been successfully completed. Please keep in close proximity to me. All communication over the “coms” is limited to minimal contact that is absolutely necessary. Situate yourselves for maximum vigilance. We’ll all be in close quarters – so don’t fart. We may have a long night ahead of us. Thank you.”
Major Markovic stiffly salutes and turns away, gesturing to Heinlein and Leeds to follow him. They appreciate his feeble attempt at humor to ease their combat jitters.
“Nothing like a fart joke to loosen everybody up”, Heinlein mutters to his companion. Leeds snickers quietly. “Sounds like the New Jersey State Police operations manual…”
Their respective mission placements are in a large H/Vac duct return directly over the main hallway access to the Ballet Amphitheater. A collapsible ladder provides access, and they carefully fold it back behind them once they’re in place. In the meantime, darkness has fallen outside. Most of the lights in the palatial residence have been extinguished with the exception of the kitchen and the Ballet Amphitheater. Their night-vision eyewear is extremely sensitive. The clarity is razor-sharp.
They wait. And wait. And wait some more.
There are similar pounce-teams strategically positioned throughout the residence – perfectly secreted in dark recesses – calmly waiting to welcome Demonic “guests”. A pro like Major Markovic has probably memorized the construction blueprints of this structure – and has cherry-picked the prime surveillance points for his men.
The silence is monotonous – but Heinlein and Leeds have weathered stakeout jobs before that were worse. Cops learn early that big jobs take agonizingly thorough preparation, planning and patience. These BratvaVarang boys know their business. Their mission equipment “kit” is first rate: solid intel and cutting-edge technology coupled with real-life experience in war zones. They know fighting. They know death. It’s a Spetsnaz thing. They’re bad asses.
1:00 Am. 2:00Am. 3:00AM.
Then – at 3:20AM – “Coms” erupt.
“POST FOUR – POST FOUR – SCREAMS FROM FOREST RANGER STATION NORTHWEST VALDAYSKY PARK – THREE RANGERS WERE JUST BUTCHERED….COHORT OF EIGHT BLOODSUCKERS AND ONE LEADER ON A MIDNIGHT STROLL FROM RANGER BUNKER TOWARDS MARBLE PALACE…IT’S A HUNTER-KILLER UNIT. OVER.”
Major Markovic’s response is brief.
“COPY THAT. THREE KLICKS AWAY. LOOK SHARP EVERYBODY. ETA IN TWENTY MINUTES”.
Heinlein winks at Leeds. She smiles, obviously high on the same adrenalin rush he’s rockin’.
It’s a long half-hour – but they finally hear it. Doors opening and closing. Feet scraping along the floors. Sure enough – the “Guests” are grabbing doorknobs. Most are locked. But they move through the open doors, down hallways Markovic has directed their access thru. The “funnel” is working. Soon artificially enhanced, almost pixilated figures are moving below Heinlein and Leeds’ perch. They hold their breath. It’s a perfect ambush.
They hear the huge Ballet Amphitheatre doors being opened and the sounds of the intruders shuffling into the room – and then
– Nothing. Dead quiet.
Heinlein looks at Leeds – who’s looking at Major Markovic. He just holds up his hand. Heinlein counts ten seconds. Twenty seconds. Thirty seconds, then the Major yells –
“STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! ALL UNITS! DANCEHALL NOW!”
They drop out of their overhead roost, down onto the marble floors and run towards the Ballet Amphitheatre doors, impacting the doors with five other Spetsnaz operatives. The doors crash open just as another six soldiers bust through the service entrance on the far side of the room.
What they see defies belief.
Simon Magus is already in there, standing immobile like a statue and glaring at a tall, grotesque Vampyre – the leader. Longinus is nearby the Master, Gladius blade in hand. He is frozen – poised like a loyal attack dog.
Prima Ballerina Magda Kuznetzova is wrapped in the arms of the tall Bloodsucker, embracing him – laughing and hissing at Simon Magus like a scalded cat. Her fangs glisten with the fresh blood of her ingénue, Katya who lies collapsed on the floor. Through her blood-smeared mouth she taunts The Master, her rancid breath fouling the room.
“WHAT AILS YOU, GREAT MAGUS? HAVE WE SNATCHED VICTORY FROM YOUR HANDS TONIGHT? AM I NOT THE BAIT YOU EXPECTED? ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TO MY LOVER – REGENT ARCHON SAMAEL. IT WAS HE WHO INITIATED ME INTO VAMPYRE LIFE! HOW I DETEST THE HYPOCRISY OF YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH! NOW I WILL TRUELY LIVE FOREVER! THE BLOOD IS THE LIFE!
BE NOT ALARMED – YOUR PRECIOUS KATYA ISN’T DEAD…SHE HAS BEEN BORN AGAIN!
Regent Archon Samael leers defiantly at Simon Magus. His oily, dark complexion and Gargoyle-like facial features are amplified by preternaturally freakish oversized canine teeth. His wretched voice casts a surreal, wicked pall over the moment.
“CHECK – AND MATE, MAGICIAN! YOU’RE DEFEATED AGAIN – JUST LIKE IN KIEV! NOW CALL OFF YOUR PACK OF RABID HYENAS!”
Samael’s guttural, grating efforts at speech are like nails scraping across a chalkboard to everyone hearing it. He hisses after each time he struggles spit out a word through jaws that look deformed. The Vampyre’s grotesque head twitches and spasms like a reptile. He’s a defiled, revolting abomination and a stain on humanity.
Simon Magus offers nothing but a thin smile to the Demon before him. He then nods at Longinus.
In his gruff Roman Officer’s rasp Longinus delivers the Master’s command.
“SPARE KATYA. KILL THE REST! DEUS GRATIA. DEUS VULT.”
For the next fifteen minutes, Major Markovic and his men wade into the cohort of Vampyres and remorselessly slay them all. Longinus takes particular pleasure in hacking off Regent Archon Samael’s head and calmly tosses it onto the growing stack. Before long the entire Ballet Amphitheatre is awash in slimy, greenish Vampyre blood and gore. The Vampyre viscera is putrid and rank. The atmosphere in the room soon becomes unbreathable. Yet – through it all – the BratvaVarang boys protect Heinlein and Leeds from the mayhem.
Simon Magus steps forward, his hands and Seax blade smeared with the odious and cursed bodily essence of his enemies.
“Heinlein, Leeds – please carry Katya to my Helicopter. We and Longinus leave this night for Paulus Hook in New Jersey, where we will tend to her.
Major Markovic – burn these Vampyre heads inside this Ballet Amphitheatre. Include the head of the Prima Ballerina. Set ablaze the whole house. Leave not a stick standing. After you’re finished, return to BratvaVarang Central Command in St. Petersburg and make your report.
Make particular effort to emphasize the treachery of Madame Kuztnezova and her malicious deception of the BratvaRus. Was it, in fact, deception? Were we intentionally fed lies to let our guard down? We must look carefully at whomever in the BratvaRus was the source of our intelligence that she was a “Russian Patriot”. Somebody bullshitted us good. Find out who did it. I will extract my revenge personally. I will contact you soon. We have much to do.”
Major Markovic salutes him and responds with traditional Varangian reverence,
“DA, HETMAN!”
Copyright 2026, Jon Croft
www.bogironslav.com
Email: vlchek1@gmail.com
