The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (2 page)

Dearest Countess
Dracula,

It is my terrible duty to
inform you that the vampire hunters are still afoot in the cities
of Buda and Pesth. Several residences suspected of harboring the
bloodthirsty undead were burnt to the ground last night.

I strongly advise you
remain in
Bistriţa
at this time. My guards and carriage will continue to be at
your service and I have dispatched my most favored servant to be at
your side. He is the Captain of my Black Guard. His name is
Adem.

As for your query into the
whereabouts of our mysterious Father Ignatius, he left the city the
night you departed with your dear husband. He has not been seen
since.

I hope this letter finds
you in good spirits,

Lovingly,

Astir

I crushed the letter in my
hand and stomped my foot. “How dare he order me about!” Pain ripped
through me at the thought of returning to Buda and not finding my
love there. Tears in my eyes, I turned away from the messenger. My
anger raged within me.

“The hunters are on a rampage. Lord
Astir relocated the entrance of the haven in order to protect it.
He is not allowing vampires to enter until the threat has ended.
The situation, my Countess, is quite dire.”

Flinging myself into a chair, I quickly
sorted through the correspondence returned to me. They were all
accounted for except the one I had sent to Astir. I had dispatched
the letters with one of Astir’s guards just the night before. I
could not fathom the magic that could transport mail so quickly to
a far destination.

“How is this?” I asked in a low voice.
“That Astir should read my letter and dispatch you all within a
day’s time.”

“He is...not of this world,” Adem
answered. He took the chair across from me. Light and darkness
played over his features. The firelight glowed against his shiny
black boots. Gold rings on his fingers caught the light and
sparkled. “I was summoned to his side this evening and sent to you.
He was concerned for your welfare and that of your husband, Count
Dracula.”

I lifted my eyes, suddenly afraid. I
had not revealed to Astir the terrible act I had committed against
Vlad. Adem had not asked to speak to Vlad, but to me. Could this
mean that I was suspect?

“My husband is at the castle,” I
said.

“That is what I was told when I
arrived. Should I travel to the castle to inform him as well?”
Adem’s expression was unreadable.

“There is no need. I was returning
alone to the city to establish a new home while he tends to the
restoration of the castle.” My lie came easily to my
lips.

“Very well,” Adem answered. “Shall I
escort you back to the castle tonight?”

Making a great show of fussing with my
letters, setting them into some order, I shook my head. “There is a
situation at the castle that Vlad desires to deal with
alone.”

“I see,” Adem said, and I was afraid
that he did truly ascertain that I was lying.

“My vampire mother...Cneajna...” I bit
my bottom lip and fought sudden tears. “My marriage to Vlad has not
set well with her. It is not safe for me to be in her presence. He
is...dealing with the situation.”

“That is unfortunate,” Adem decided,
his dark eyes regarding me thoughtfully. “I do understand that
vampire families can be complicated when there are shifts in
power.”

I nodded my head, my lips pressed
tightly together. I could still remember the terror and pain when
Cneajna struck her dagger repeatedly into my flesh, not to kill me,
but to make me suffer.

“Lord Astir did request that I make
absolutely certain you are safe. Since you will not be returning to
the castle, I shall stay here with you. I have brought my own men
to replace the ones that were sent by Lord Astir to deliver you and
your husband safely to the castle.”

Slowly I raised my eyes, trying to read
the stoic face of the man across from me. His dark eyes disturbed
me with their piercing gaze. I feared he saw through all my
lies.

“I do not know if that is
necessary.”

“Lord Astir was quite explicit in his
command that no harm is to come to you. I am to stay at your side
until I am certain you are safe. I am not convinced you are out of
harm’s way residing in this hotel so far from your husband’s
side.”

My fingers fidgeting with the edges of
the letters, I sighed. How I wished I had left immediately for Buda
instead of preparing my way with correspondence to Vlad’s minions
and Astir. Yet, I would not want to arrive in the city to find
myself pursued by the vampire hunters that had burned my home to
the ground. I was also certain I would not want to face the
dhamphir vampire hunter known as Gregor without Vlad or Ignatius at
my side. The thought of Ignatius brought a terrible wrench of pain
through my chest. How would I find him?

“Very well. I shall stay here until
Lord Astir declares that it is safe for me to return,” I
acquiesced.

“I shall inform him of your decision,”
Adem assured me.

I was not certain if there was the hint
of a threat in his tone or not. “Thank you.”

“Shall I inform your husband as
well?”

I lifted my eyes to the fire and shook
my head. “He has enough to worry about. I shall send a letter via
the normal post simply stating I am delayed. I do not wish for him
to be unnecessarily worried.” I felt tears once more brimming in my
eyes at the thought of Vlad. Toward the end of our time together,
he had been very protective of me. I knew if he believed me in
danger and was capable, he would come to my defense immediately. Of
course, he would also punish me for my defiance.

“I have upset you with my news,” Adem
said softly. “I apologize, Countess.”

“It is no fault of yours. I am merely
overwhelmed with the events of the past week or so. It has been a
troubling time.”

Adem inclined his head in agreement.
“Yes. The vampire hunters are disturbing in their relentlessness to
destroy the undead and other creatures of the night.”

The vampire hunters were the least of
my worries. I had other concerns and felt very alone. I craved
companionship in that moment. If only there was someone with whom
to speak about my woes. But there was no one.

Standing, I held my returned letters
tightly in my hand. “I do need to send correspondence to my
husband’s servants in Buda. I speak for him in matters of our
estate there. Could you arrange for fresh letters to be
delivered?”

“Of course.”

“I shall then retire to my room to
write.” I strolled toward the door, wishing to escape.

He quickly leaped up to open it for me.
“I have ordered the proprietor to remove the guests from the rooms
around yours. The guards will occupy those rooms. I shall have the
one directly across from yours. I am at your disposal whenever I am
needed.”

“Thank you. You are very kind. I shall
thank Astir for entrusting my care into your capable hands. I feel
quite protected.” I smiled slightly, then hurried toward the
staircase that would lead me to my room. To my dismay, he fell into
step behind me.

“I should check your room and make sure
it is sufficiently secure to keep you safe during the day,
Countess. We cannot be certain that the vampire hunters will not
venture into this area.”

His footfalls were heavy on the stairs
while mine were light as a feather. I was annoyed with his
intrusion into my evening and his lord’s admonition that I should
stay away from Buda. My teeth were sharp in my mouth and my eyes
burned as my power rose. Perhaps I had been a fool not to have fed
in previous nights for now my temper and hunger were intricately
intertwined.

“Please be quick about it,” I answered
rather sharply. “I have much writing to do before the sun
rises.”

“Of course,” he answered, not taking
offense at my tone. In fact, he seemed slightly amused.

Reaching the door to my room, Adem
stepped forward to open it. Seeing that I had not locked it behind
me, he gave me an admonishing look. I gave him a tense smile in
response. Opening the door, he entered, a dagger flashing in his
hand. The appearance of the weapon surprised me for I had not even
seen him draw it.

There was a sharp exclamation from
within the room. Peering past Adem’s shoulder, I saw Katya lying on
my bed, her hand drawn up to her neck. Her surprised expression
matched Adem’s.

Moving swiftly into the room, I walked
over to the bed, grabbed the girl’s wrist, and wrenched her off.
She cried out and flailed as she crashed to the floor. The
bedcovers and pillows slid off the bed into a silky heap. My little
journal lay exposed for all to see. I could see Adem’s sharp eyes
take in the small volume, but he said nothing as he slid his dagger
into a hidden sheath in his sleeve.

“You said to come later,” Katya uttered
sullenly.

“When I am in the room. I do not care
for people to cavort among my personal affects when I am not
present!” My fingers gripped her wrist tighter as I shook
her.

“Forgiveness!”

“Do not enter my room unless I give you
specific instructions.”

“I will obey you. I promise!” She clung
to my skirt, her large blue eyes begging for my mercy.

I released her arm and snatched up my
journal. Turning my back on Adem, I quickly tossed my letters into
the small fireplace in the corner of the room. I scowled as the red
wax with the imprint of a dragon slowly burned in the glowing
embers. That my plans to return to Buda and exact my revenge on
Vlad’s minions were delayed angered me. I sat down at my desk and
tucked my journal under a sheaf of paper as Adem meticulously
scrutinized the windows and shutters.

Meanwhile, Katya roused herself from
her weeping and tidied up my bed. She smiled at me timidly,
obviously trying to impress me with her servitude.

Tapping my gold pen against
the inkwell, I considered my next course of action. If I had to
stay in Bistriţa, then I would continue my search for
Erzsébet
. I was certain Vlad had moved her
crypt. Perhaps her new resting place would not be as secure as her
former prison. I desired to rescue and restore her. The other
Brides may scorn me, but I knew she would not. Erzsébet had
understood my need to be free of Vlad. Perhaps she could take me to
Ignatius. After all, they were both the offspring of their
Mistress, therefore siblings of her blood.

Upon finishing his inspection of my
room, Adem let out a low sigh, shaking his head. “It will have to
do. I will have men stationed across the street to make certain
that you will not be attacked through the windows given the close
proximity of the other buildings. Yet, I do not see a better room
to relocate you. If you do not mind, I will have iron shutters
installed on the inside of the windows. You will be able to close
and lock them before you rest. I’m sure the proprietor of the
building will not mind such an arrangement.”

Katya began to open her mouth to
protest, but was silence by Adem’s quick look.

“A proper payment to keep the lady safe
will be in order,” he added.

“Papa does like money,” Katya
admitted.

I remembered all too well the vampire
hunters' assault on Vlad’s carriage. I had been engulfed in flames
and burnt severely. I would not like a repeat of that particular
incident in my temporary haven. “Please take care of it
immediately, Adem.”

“I will, Countess.” Adem’s gaze rested
on Katya.

The lovely blond thing was lingering
near the bed, her fingers lightly skimming over the silken
bedclothes. It was bedding Vlad had explicitly requested during our
previous stay. Her expression was languid and sensual. It was
obvious that she was waiting for Adem to leave us.

Approaching me, Adem looked
apprehensive. Slowly, he leaned down to whisper, “Do you think it
wise to feed off her? We do not want to anger her
father.”

“My husband often feeds from her during
his visits. I will only take a little.”

“Perhaps you should feed from my men,”
Adem suggested, his dark eyes narrowing on the girl.

“And you?” I arched a brow.

Adem smirked. “My blood would not
satisfy you. I shall arrange for my men to offer their throats to
you every night. Take what you need. They are all born of Lord
Astir’s haven and have given their blood before.”

Katya frowned, overhearing our
conversation. “But I want her to kiss me! How dare you
interfere!”

“That is enough,” I said sharply to the
girl.

She bit her bottom lip, her eyes
filling with tears. Surprisingly, she stayed silent.

Standing, I turned to Adem. “A little
sip every night will probably be wise considering my situation. It
is best if I do not hunt with any regularity in the city for fear
of drawing attention.”

“Agreed. I shall send one of my men to
your door every night at the hour of your choosing.”