The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (37 page)

Withdrawing his hand, Adem inclined his
head. “Very well.”

We sat in silence, side by side, both
locked within our own hellish thoughts. The whistling of the wind
outside the windows reminded me of the castle. The sisters were
trapped there by my own will. I wondered if they had starved down
to bones yet, then I forced the thought away, unable to bear my own
evil.

“There you are,” Csilla’s voice echoed
around us.

Glancing over my shoulder I saw her in
one of the doorways to the ballroom. She was clad in a simple gown
and robe. Her long hair tumbled down around her bosom and she
looked pale and sickly. Yet, she was beautiful and compelling in
her own way.

“We were practicing.” I held up my
dagger.

“Odd how Vlad has you learning how to
fight like a man,” she mused.

I slid to my feet and walked to her.
“You don’t look well. Perhaps you should sleep.”

“Sir Stephan is coming tonight. He has
drawn up papers declaring that when I die, you are my sole
inheritor.” She laughed slightly. “When I die, I will be your
eternal sister. The money will serve us both well then, won’t it?
And Vlad shall be satisfied of my loyalty.”

Impulsively, I touched her cheek and
she cradled my hand against her fevered flesh. Her dark eyes gazed
into mine with great yearning. “I will love you forever and do
whatever you desire.”

“Vlad will be pleased,” I lied. I
kissed her forehead, feeling the heightened warmth of her
skin.

Together we walked to the parlor where
Sir Stephan would meet with us. He was leery of her decision to
make me her sole inheritor, but would not deny her request. As we
strolled through the long hallways, Csilla shivered. The freezing
weather outside was seeping into the palace. Though flames raged in
all the fireplaces and every candle was lit, the glowing warmth of
the fires did not quite push away the worst of the cold.

Once seated in the parlor, she rested
her head on my shoulder, her fingers wrapped around mine. “When
will Vlad return to us?”

“I do not know. He comes and goes as he
pleases.”

“I dream of him often. He calls to me,
but I can never find him.”

Her words startled me. “Does
he?”

“Yes. He calls to me and I search for
him, but I always find you. Not him.” Shifting her head, she gazed
up at me. “What does it mean?”

“That I will be your mistress. You will
belong to me and he will see that your love for him is
true.”

“Will you love me once I am your
sister?” Csilla wondered, her eyes searching my face.

“Why do you think I don’t love you
now?” I wrapped her up in my arms, playfully kissing her
cheek.

“You love Laura more. I can see
it.”

“Now, now. Laura is my dear friend.
Nothing more. You are my future sister of the blood. A future Bride
of Dracula.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I am your
future Bride. You will make me a vampire and I will be yours. I
wonder if you will love me then.” Tucking her head under my chin,
she clutched my hand tighter.

I was startled by her words and their
implication. Then I comforted myself with the thought she would
never be a vampire and I would soon be done with her.

Brice appeared at the open door.
“Madam, Sir Stephan is here to see you.” His clipped tones and pale
face worried me. I had hardly exchanged a word with him since my
arrival at the palace. He was elusive and I feared he believed I
was in consort with the Baroness.

“Bring him in,” Csilla said, gesturing
with one hand. Sitting up, she drew her robe tighter about her and
fussed with her shawl.

Sir Stephan entered the room and was
clearly startled by her appearance.

“I am not feeling well today. Forgive
my attire,” she said, beckoning him to a chair next to
her.

Sitting down, he set his case upon his
knees and regarded us with some trepidation. “Baroness, I am
concerned. The papers you asked me to draw up and your appearance
compel me to wonder whether you are in good health.”

Csilla smiled at him sensually and her
gaze flicked toward me briefly. “I am well enough to know that
should I die my dear Countess should inherit my worldly goods. I
have no children, no husband, no family. At least no family beyond
the countess.”

Sir Stephan’s eyes narrowed upon me. “I
see.”

“Vlad rewards loyalty.” I returned his
gaze pointedly. I knew that both the baroness and Sir Stephan had
served Vlad in hopes of one day being his eternal servants. They
both longed for immortality.

Sir Stephan regarded both of us for a
long moment before opening his case and fussing with the paperwork
within. “I am well aware of our Master’s demands. Hopefully, he
will see that I have done all he has desired and that my obedience
to you will be a reflection of my loyalty to him.”

I wanted to feel more
triumphant in the minutes that followed, but I felt a strange
emptiness fill me. As the Baroness Dosza signed the documents that
would make me the sole inheritor of her fortune, effectively
signing her own death warrant, I thought of my family, long
deceased and gone from this world, and wondered if I would feel
satisfaction when I killed her.

When she finished signing
the last of the paperwork, she turned to me and kissed me on both
cheeks. Pressing her forehead to mine, she clutched my hands
tightly. “I will do all you desire for eternity.”

I gently stroked her hair, compelling
her to lay her head upon my shoulder and not kiss me in a manner
that would cause me discomfort. She obeyed, content in her decision
and the execution of it. I watched Sir Stephan tuck away the
papers, his hands slightly trembling.

“What are your thoughts?” My voice
sounded harsher than I desired.

Sir Stephan snapped his case shut and
beheld me with misty eyes. “I wonder what will be the price I pay
for my own immortality.”

I was surprised by his words and had no
answer for him. He obviously took this as an ominous sign for his
hands began to shake.

“I do not want to give up my only child
to you! It is enough that Maria and I stand aside and allow you to
befriend her. Your influence upon her frightens us. We merely want
her to marry and be happy. Is that too much to ask? Let the price
of our immortality be anything other than our only living child,
Countess Dracula.”

I stared at him aghast. “I have no
desire for her life! She is truly my friend! I would never hurt
her!”

“Truly?” He was clearly surprised by my
answer.

“Yes. Of course!”

“Then what will be our price?”
Confusion filled his features as he sat with his case upon his bony
knees staring at me with fear.

“That is for Vlad to decide,” I
answered. My anger against him and Maria was in no way assuaged,
yet I could not bear to do anything against them for fear of
hurting Laura. The bastard was saved by my devotion to his
daughter.

Slowly his shoulders relaxed as he
gazed at me with a mixture of relief and lingering fear. “I suppose
that is all I could hope for.”

“Vlad honors loyalty.” Csilla smiled
with contentment now that she believed her future as a vampire was
secure.

“Yes, he does.” Sir Stephan stood,
bowed, and moved toward the door. “If you should see him soon,
please send him my warm regards.”

“Good night, Sir Stephan.” I watched
him depart then turned to Csilla. Smiling blissfully at me, she
turned her head, baring her neck. In triumph, I bit into her throat
and fed.

Chapter 24

The Journal of Countess
Dracula

November 21,
1820

The Dosza Palace,
Buda

The snow continues to fall.
It seems every night the sky is full of snowflakes. The river has
begun to freeze over and huge chunks of ice have made the ferry
passage to Pesth difficult. In the light of the full moon, the
world is white and black.

I continue to drink from
Csilla and occasionally the guards. Csilla has embraced her malaise
happily. She regards it as a rite of passage from the world of the
living to the world of the vampires.

Though Adem continues to
drill me on fighting tactics and Magda is always a pleasant
companion, my world has become the palace. Before when I chose to
hide myself away, I did not feel so trapped. But now that the snow
drifts are packed high, I am restless. Perhaps it is that damned
fallen angel’s warning. I fear something is amiss.

“A message from Sir
Stephan,” Magda said, setting the envelope before me.

I set my novel aside and reached for
the letter. “He sent out a messenger in this weather?”

“Perhaps it is urgent.” Magda lingered
at my side, obviously just as curious as I was.

Breaking the seal, I opened the
envelope and drew out a simple sheet of paper. I read the words
once, then twice, my heart letting out a sharp thud.

Dearest Countess
Dracula,

We implore you to come to
our home immediately. Laura has fallen ill and we are gravely
concerned. She is requesting that you come to her beside. Maria and
I agree that seeing you will lift her spirits.

Please come
swiftly.

Sir Stephan

“Tell Adem we are departing
immediately to Sir Stephan’s house,” I said. “Laura is
ill.”

“Oh, my!” Magda gasped before rushing
from the room to do as I asked.

Standing, I crumpled the letter in my
hand remembering the words of the fortuneteller.

You cannot escape the
dragon forever. It will come to consume you and death will be your
harbinger.

Terribly afraid, I quickly
dressed in a warm wool dress and donned my coat. Snatching up my
hat, I rushed downstairs to find Adem. I found Enre in the foyer
clad in a heavy coat and hat for the cold weather. He bowed his
head as I approached.

“The sleigh is being brought around. We
shall leave shortly.”

As I pulled on my gloves, I could not
help but worry about Laura. She had confided in me about the death
of her brother during a bad winter storm some years past and how
she had almost died as well. It was unbearable to consider losing
my dear friend.

Brice appeared from the dark depths of
one of the halls that led to the kitchens. In one hand he carried a
pot by its handle, careful not to spill its contents. I was
surprised to see him and even more surprised when he held the tiny
pot out to me.

“It’s medicinal tea,” he explained. “A
few of the maids are sick with a cough and this tea has given them
some relief.”

“Thank you, Brice. This is a lovely
gesture.” I gratefully took it and smiled at him.

His expression remained stoic as he
studied me with some degree of suspicion. At last, he slightly
bowed and returned to the darkness of the hall.

The door opened and a harsh, freezing
wind flooded the foyer. Adem stepped hurriedly inside and slammed
the door shut. Bits of snow whirled around him before settling
wetly on the marble floor.

“Countess, the snowstorm is not as
fierce as it was earlier, but we should depart now and hope it does
not worsen.”

“I am ready to leave.”

I handed the tea to Enre before taking
Adem’s arm. We slipped out into the night, the cold gripping me
immediately. The snow flurries swirled about on the night breeze
and the packed snow beneath our feet crunched with our every step.
The dark sleigh and black horses were a striking contrast to the
white world enfolding us. Adem valiantly helped me up and tucked
the heavy blankets around me once I was seated. Enre handed me the
pot and I nestled it on my lap, cradling it with my gloved
hands.

The driver of the sleigh was thickly
wrapped up in a coat and cloak. The familiar face of the baroness’
personal driver peeked out from beneath his hat. Adem and Enre
stepped onto the runners and held on as the horses clopped forward.
Lowering my head, I tried to keep the freezing wind from my eyes as
it tugged at my hat and coat. It was not a long distance to Sir
Stephan’s house, but the weather hampered our progress. It was
difficult to see the road and the driver was leery of the tall snow
banks.

When at last we drew up the long drive
to the mansion where Laura lived, I was quite relieved to see the
light pouring into the night from the windows. It gave the home a
comforting, warm allure.

“There we are,” the driver said, a
smile finally gracing his ruddy face. “No little snow storm can
keep me from fulfilling my duties.”

“I am grateful for your assistance. I
would not have asked for you to leave the comfort of the palace if
not for my great concern for my friend.”

“I understand, Countess Dracula. Unlike
some rich folk, you actually care for others.” He gave me small nod
of his head and drew the sleigh up to the front doors.