Silver in the Blood (21 page)

“You
need
to go back to Bucharest?” Again the smile.

Dacia felt like her stomach was filled with ice. She wanted to run from the room, and only Lou's arm in hers kept her from fleeing.

“Maria Louisa, don't be silly,” Aunt Maria said, waving a handkerchief at her daughter as though wiping her request away. “There is so much to discuss! And so much to teach you!”

“Dacia is very shaken by the events of last night,” Lou pressed on. “And, although I love it here”—a trace of wistfulness showed in her voice—“I don't think it's the right place for us to be right now. I would like to go back to Bucharest today and then on to Buda-Pesth. We'll say good-bye to the Szekelys, and other acquaintances we've made in Bucharest first, of course.” She nodded at her mother, as though convincing Aunt Maria that she would observe all the formalities of polite society.

“The Szekelys?”

Lady Ioana's eyebrows could not possibly go any higher, and her smile could not get any wider, either, Dacia thought. The ice was creeping its way up her throat from her stomach.

“A charming family that we met just before we left Bucharest,” Lou supplied.

“I know the family,” Lady Ioana said. “I know all the important families in Bucharest. In all of Romania!” She banged her cane on the floor, and Dacia jumped. “And do you know why?” She didn't wait for them to answer. “Because they are of so little concern to us! We are so different from them, so far above them, that they are as insects crawling on the ground beneath our feet!”

“After last night, we thought you would understand,” Uncle Horia said. There was a line between his brows and he looked baffled by Lou's request. “We are not like them. We have our own concerns, which other people cannot understand.”

“Like treason?” Dacia's voice broke shrilly through the ice that was consuming her from within.

“It is not treason to restore the rightful ruler to the throne,” Uncle Horia said, not very convincingly, to Dacia's ears.

“Taking over Europe is not restoring a rightful ruler to the throne,” Lou pointed out. “Besides which, Dacia and I are Americans. We really should not be part of this.”

Lady Ioana made a rude noise. “Americans! You are your mothers' daughters, and Romanian! We should have brought you here years ago!”

“I'm afraid I feel far more American than Romanian,” Lou said, rather primly.

Even as she resolved not to say another word, Dacia found herself speaking. “I just don't understand. If Mihai's family has the greater claim, why does no one but our family talk about it?”

“Young ladies do not need to concern themselves with politics,” Aunt Maria said. “You are here to add your support to the family, and to do as you are told!”

Dacia pulled at the drawstring collar of her gown. Her aunt's words angered her, and in the rush of heat from her anger, she felt her soft gown chafing. A bitter taste filled her mouth, and she fought the transformation, smothering a wail of despair. Would it always be like this? Would fear or anger or surprise always make her change? She was distracted, fortunately, by Lou's answer.

“I don't think so, Mother,” Lou said with shocking coldness. “I don't think that it is a good idea at all for us to sit quietly and wait for you to tell us what to do. Not if it's treason. I don't like Prince Mihai, and if we are to take part in Romanian politics, it seems to me that King Carol has much more to recommend him.”

Aunt Maria drew in a shocked breath. “Maria Louisa! How
dare
you! Our family has guarded the Dracula family for four hundred years! If Prince Mihai told you to bring him the moon—”

“I'd laugh in his face,” Lou retorted. “As you yourself have told me all my life: I am from two very great families, and I take orders from no one.”

“You will take orders from me, little girl,” Lady Ioana said. She was not smiling now, and it seemed much worse.

“Why should I?” Lou asked. “I am the Smoke.”

Lady Ioana's wrinkled face flushed dark and her teeth seemed to sharpen. “You will listen to me now, you spoiled thing—”

But Lou was clearly not in the mood to let her finish. “
I am the Smoke
,” she snapped. “Like your mother, Lady Ioana.”

Dacia could not understand why Aunt Maria and Uncle Horia both flinched at Lou's words, or why Lady Ioana seemed unable to reply, but at least Lou's argument seemed to be working, which was better than Dacia could say for her own feeble attempts to fight.

“And Dacia is the queen of the Claw,” Lou said. “In case you've forgotten.” Her hard, very un-Lou-like gaze found Uncle Horia's, and he looked away. “We won't be taking orders from anyone. You can try to lock us in our rooms, but I doubt very much any lock could hold me.” She gave Dacia's arm a tug. “We'd better order the maids to pack,” she said. “Please order the carriage for us, Uncle.”

Stricken mute, Dacia allowed Lou to lead her out of the parlor and up the stairs to Lou's bedroom. Dacia slowly collapsed on a chair in the corner, staring at the new Lou. Lou, for her part, threw herself on the bed, kicking her legs in what looked like a tantrum. Dacia started to rise again, alarmed, but then she realized that Lou was laughing.

“Why didn't you tell me that talking back felt so good?” Lou demanded.

 

FROM THE DESK OF MISS MARIA LOUISA NEULANDER

14 June 1897

Dearest Papa,

Dacia and I are on our way to Bucharest, so you must forgive my handwriting; this carriage is not very well sprung. Lady Ioana did not try to stop us from leaving, but is showing her disapproval in other, smaller ways, like lending us the oldest carriage in the stables. It is very childish of her. Nevertheless, we will be there tomorrow, and spend a day saying good-bye to some new acquaintances. We shall take the Friday train to Buda-Pesth, and hope to see you and the twins at the station on Sunday afternoon.

We now both know what it is that made you so anxious for our safety. It was a shock, but I can assure you that I am quite recovered. Dacia, on the other hand, has taken it very badly, hence our hasty departure. I am hoping that time and distance from Lady Ioana will restore her.

I hope that the twins are behaving themselves. Tell them that if they are, I shall bring them both a present. Radu brought me some sugared plums that are simply divine, and I want to find more. I will buy a box for each of the boys IF they can be good.

All my love,
LouLou

P.S. Since I know you are wondering: I do not know when, or even if, Mama will be joining us. You will have to inquire of her directly. She is not speaking to me at present.

In Bucharest Lou felt herself breathe a little easier, which she hadn't thought possible. She was so light already that she thought she might float away at times in sheer excitement, and seeing the elegant boulevards of Bucharest made her positively giddy. Not even the revelation about Lady Ioana and what she'd done to the other girls of the Smoke could keep Lou down, for during her journey she had made a silent promise that she would bring Lady Ioana to justice for what she had done.

When they pulled up in front of the mansion on Rua Silvestre, Lou sprang from the carriage before the footman could even offer a hand to help her. She smiled brightly at Dacia, who emerged from the carriage blinking and wincing, as though the sunlight were far too bright. It was a lovely day, but there were enough clouds in the sky to keep it from being too glaring.

“Coming?”

Dacia didn't answer.

Lou studied her dear cousin and friend. Dacia had hardly spoken the entire journey from Bran, preferring instead to stare out the window and answer any of Lou's comments with monosyllables. Stripped of her usual fashionable clothes, her hair down, and her face so remote, Dacia looked fragile and yet wild at the same time . . . entirely unlike herself. It was the only mar on Lou's good cheer. She hoped that once they were safely away from Romania, her cousin would recover, but she didn't know what to do if she didn't. Dacia had often talked of getting a small apartment for the two of them in New York. It had always seemed too scandalous for Lou to contemplate, but at present it seemed like just the thing to help Dacia, and Lou knew that her father would not refuse her if she asked.

Yes, that was the answer. A place of their own, far from here, and perhaps college in the fall, for Lou. She let out a little laugh and squeezed Dacia's arm. Yes.

Lou's giddiness was dampened considerably when Prince Mihai arrived moments later. The cousins were still standing in the entrance hall, so they could hardly pretend they were not at home when the prince pushed past the butler who had answered the door as though he weren't even there.

“You are back at last!” He made an expansive gesture, as though he wanted to embrace them both.

Lou stepped back a bit, and so did Dacia. Lou saw that her cousin was looking at Mihai with terrified eyes.

Unable to cast manners aside completely, Lou invited the prince into the parlor, though she was determined to get rid of him as soon as possible. She had to fight down years of training
to avoid ringing for tea. She removed her hat, a delicate confection of lace and feathers, and set it on a small table, jabbing the long hatpin into it with unnecessary force. Dacia sank onto a sofa as though she were near fainting, of which Lou approved, as her semi-prone posture prevented the prince from sitting next to her.

“How fortunate for you that we have just returned,” Lou said politely after a short silence. “I must warn you, it's been a tiring day.” She stopped herself just before she mentioned changing out of her travel clothes. Mihai always made such statements sound so
intimate
. “And when did you get back from Peles?” She tried to keep her manners in place, all the same.

“Yesterday,” he said. “The longest day of my life!” He gave Dacia a smoldering look.

“I'm very sorry to hear that,” Lou replied.

Dacia stood up.

“You
know
, don't you?” she asked in a flat tone. “You know all about us. About our family. So just say whatever it is you want to say and then go.”

Prince Mihai stood as well. His flirtatious manner dropped away like a cast-off cloak, and he looked at Dacia with an expression that was so hard it was frightening. Lou rose to her feet, feeling herself tensing and lifting out of her shoes a little bit. If Mihai threatened her, she could simply dissolve and fly away.

But Dacia didn't have that luxury, so Lou forced her heels back on the ground.

“Good,” Prince Mihai said. “Since you are both still alive, I am guessing that you have successfully made the transformation into your true shapes.”

Lou felt thoroughly grounded now. She didn't answer him, and neither did Dacia; and in any case he seemed to not need an answer. As he had said, they were both still alive. Lou had not allowed herself to question what would have happened if she or Dacia had failed to transform.

In light of Aunt Kate's revelation about the fate of the other Smoke girls, Lou had no doubt that Lady Ioana would have had them killed if they'd failed. Even now she might be planning on having Lou murdered, to get rid of the only living Smoke and ensure that she, Lady Ioana, remained head of the family.

“And you know of my plans to take the throne?” Mihai asked appraisingly. “The throne that rightfully belongs to me?”

Now he waited for an answer, so Lou nodded. Dacia didn't move.

“Excellent,” Mihai said. “I have other plans as well, you know. Deeper plans beyond just getting back my illustrious ancestor's throne and bringing Europe to its knees.”

He looked at Dacia, and his blatant gaze made Lou blush. Her blush turned to anger, though, when she saw how Dacia's hands began to shake, and the feverish color that stained her cousin's pale cheeks.

“A queen who is also a shape-shifter?” He smiled. “Who could rip the throats out of anyone who displeases me? Ah! Such a thing will make me powerful beyond measure! And what could be more natural?” He pointed to the bracelet on Dacia's wrist, and Lou noticed that her cousin was wearing the heavy gold bangle that Mihai had sent her. “The sign of our people is a wolf-headed dragon! We are meant to rule the world together!”

Before either of the cousins could move, Mihai seized hold
of Dacia and kissed her hard on the mouth, his hands grasping at her back, her buttocks. Dacia made a strangled noise, and her fists beat weakly at his shoulders.

Lou exploded into mist, her clothes falling to the floor in a heap.

Mihai pushed Dacia away, temporarily sated, and she fell backward onto the sofa. He noticed Lou's clothing, and looked up with a grin, his lips red and wet. “Where did you fly off to, little bat?”

Lou forced herself to take on her own form, but only halfway, so that he could see her there. She did it between him and Dacia, with her arms outstretched to warn him off.