The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (4 page)

Flushed and restored, I extracted my
fangs from his neck, my tongue snaking across the wounds so they
might heal. Cradling his head against my bosom, I leaned down once
more to kiss his cheek.

“Thank you, Enre,” I said, and released
him.

I ran my tongue over my lips, licking
away the remnants of my feeding. I straightened my robe and gown
before tucking my hair back from my face.

“You may go, Enre,” Adem said,
dismissing the guard.

I glanced toward them to see Adem
helping Enre to his feet. Blushing at the sight of the swelling in
Enre’s trousers, I busied myself collecting my letters, directing
my gaze to the wax seals I had so carefully created on each
one.

Once the door had shut behind my
willing meal, I turned, holding out the letters to Adem. “Please
see that these are delivered to Buda. And should Astir ask, they
merely inform the Baroness and Sir Stephan that my anger against
them is now assuaged. The letters also state that Vlad has restored
them to his good graces, seeing as I no longer want their heads on
platters.”

Adem arched an eyebrow, obviously not
understanding.

“I am a vampire because of them. They
conspired against me and my family and delivered me to
Vlad.”

“Your husband.”

“Yes,” I answered, feeling my face
flush even more.

“Prince Vlad, Count Dracula of
Wallachia, is your husband, but you are furious with his minions
for delivering you to his castle?” Adem raised both eyebrows, his
keen dark eyes observing the expression upon my face.

Slightly lowering my gaze, I sighed.
“Vlad killed my family in a rage and made me his Bride. It was
nearly a year ago and it is difficult...to forgive.”

Tucking the letters into his coat, Adem
inclined his head. “Not to intrude into your private
affairs-“

I laughed, amused at his words. “Excuse
me, sir, but did you not deliver one of your men so that I could
feed? I do believe you are most certainly involved in my most
private of affairs. It seems of little consequence for you to know
that I do hate those who betrayed my family to Vlad.”

Adem began to speak, but thought better
of it.

“I live a complicated life,” I said in
a tone that held a tinge of my anger.

“I see.” Adem studied my expression,
then stepped back to the door. “I shall make sure your letters are
posted.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything else you desire
tonight?”

My anger was gone now, rushing out like
a dark tide that would return later. I felt the stark loneliness
threatening to return.

“Yes. I would like to ride tonight.
Please arrange to have a horse saddled for me.”

Adem nodded and moved to exit. “I will
come with you.”

I started to protest, then thought
better of it. “Yes, of course.”

“Where are we going, may I
ask?”

“To find the resting place of the
Countess Dolingen,” I answered. I watched his expression, curious
to see if he knew Erzsébet.

Inclining his head slightly, his
expression delivering neither confirmation nor a denial of his
knowledge of Vlad’s betrayed first wife, he slipped out of my
room.

Chapter 3

I could not help but find myself
distraught and desperately missing Magda, my former maid, as Katya
assisted me with my bath and dressing. Magda had always performed
her duties with just the appropriate amount of care and attention
to detail, while allowing me to retain some sense of privacy and
dignity. Katya, however, fawned over me, fussed with my hair and
clothing, attempted to bathe me and at one point, overtly bared her
throat to me.

At last I lost my temper. I took her by
the shoulders and shook her. “If I desire to feed from you, I will
do it! Do not try to seduce me!”

To my dismay, she burst into tears and
flung herself into my arms, sobbing hysterically. I was tempted to
toss her onto the floor, but thought better of it. Her father’s
assistance was imperative to my long stay at his hotel. I willed
her to sleep and dropped her onto the bed to slumber while I rode
with Adem.

I straightened my hat, fluffed my curls
and smoothed out the wrinkles from my long, navy blue riding dress.
I rather liked the austere design with its high collar and tight
cuffs. The hem of my petticoat had precious delicate tucks and navy
blue ribbons. I had only worn it a few times in Buda and it brought
me fond memories. Vlad had insisted that I ride with my brother,
Andrew, during his visit and had approved of the outfit when I had
first appeared in it. His admiration had made me blush, but now
infuriated me. Reflecting upon my time in Buda, I felt a pang of
sorrow mixed with anger, for I suspected every kindness was a grand
manipulation.

Snatching up my gloves, I let myself
out of my room. I was not surprised to see Adem waiting for me.
Together we hurried down the long hall, the gentle snores of the
sleeping travelers lodging in the hotel the only noise other than
our footfalls.

I was anxious to be out of the hotel
and into the night. I was ecstatic to depart on an adventure. I had
high hopes that I may find Erzsébet’s resting place, though I
feared that Vlad’s last mysterious task had been to hide her. I
desperately hoped he had merely raised strong wards about her crypt
to hide it from the gaze of anyone stumbling upon it. Perhaps now
that he was entombed, the ward would fall as his power
waned.

“It is a good night for a ride. It
rained today and the sky is clear,” Adem said as we stepped
outside.

A light mist flowed over the
cobblestones as night birds sang in the cypress trees. Two guards
waited for us, holding the reins of two absolutely beautiful black
horses. They were tall, sleek, and fiercely arrogant. Tossing back
their manes, the horses regarded me with dark eyes. I was shocked
when those luminous eyes flared red for an instant.

“These are no mere horses!” I
gasped.

“They are not. But what they are is not
truly your concern. Just know that they are strong, fast, and loyal
to their riders.” Adem took hold of my arm just above the elbow and
guided me to the horse nearest us. The great beast regarded me with
keen interest when I reached out to it. Its nose nestled into the
palm of my hand, and I felt a strange kinship with the
beast.

“What is your name?” I whispered to
it.

“They have no names. At least, not
names they share with us.” Adem easily slid onto the back of his
horse.

One of Adem’s men moved to help me
mount the horse, but I easily swung myself up. My legs slung to one
side of the large, beautiful beast, I fussed with my dress and
petticoats. I often craved to ride like a man, straddling a horse,
but dresses did not allow for such a thing. I considered wearing
trousers like a man, but my adoration of fashion has prevented me
from such a thing.

Adem expertly tugged on the reins and
his horse trotted to my side. He bent over slightly and regarded me
with curiosity.

“Where shall we go to find the Countess
Dolingen?”

“A graveyard. It was near a ruined
village somewhere between the castle and here. I realize that we
only have a few hours to search, but I am desperate.”

“These horses are faster than their
mundane counterparts. We shall make good time.”

“It was off the main road, down a very
old, unused path as I remember.”

“And what shall we do when we reach
your destination and hopefully find her?” Adem raised his eyebrows.
“What are your plans?” He seemed bemused by my impromptu rescue
mission.

“Do you know who she is?” I tilted my
head, regarding him with curiosity. He did seem to know far more
than I had originally surmised.

“Countess Dolingen, vampire sister to
Count Dracula. She abandoned her mistress to be with him and simply
disappeared into these mountains, never to return to Vienna, the
haven, or her mistress.”

“Erzsébet abandoned her
Mistress?”

“When Vlad’s Mistress exiled him to his
lands, Erzsébet went with him. She loved him desperately and
willingly left behind her estate and riches to live with him in the
Carpathian Mountains along with his Bride, Cneajna.” Adem shrugged
slightly. “The madness of love spoke and she doomed
herself.”

“You know so much!” I was surprised,
yet enthralled.

With a laugh, Adem spurred his horse,
guiding it onto the street. “Yes. Far too much.”

I quickly snapped my reins and
followed. “How do you know these things?”

“I am in servitude to Lord Astir,” he
reminded me.

The darkened buildings rose up around
us, silent as their inhabitants slept. Dogs prowled as cats yowled,
the night taken over by nocturnal beasts. Adem deftly avoided the
churches in the town, sparing me the discomfort that came with
being close to holy places and relics.

“I have lived a very long time and have
seen much. I am Lord Astir’s captain of the guard, and therefore
privy to much of the information he acquires.”

“Are you human?”

Adem raised his eyebrows in surprise,
and then nodded. “Yes. I am.”

“You say you are very old, yet I see a
young man before me. I do not understand.”

“When one is dealing with Lord Astir,
you must be aware that he is capable of many wondrous things. He is
able to grant you the very desire of your heart, but the cost can
be high. I am just a man. I eat food, drink, sleep, dream, love,
hate…all the things that mere mortals do. But I am alive because I
cannot die.”

“Why not?”

A cloud of dark emotion passed over his
features and he shook his head. “For reasons I do not wish to speak
of or the night will turn dreary and our ride will be one of
misery.”

“I see.”

And I could. There was something
terrible that lurked in the depths of his dark eyes. I did not want
to press him if such pain lingered in his heart. I understood all
too well the agony of a haunted past.

We rode out of the town, heading down
the long winding road that traveled through the countryside. The
towering mountains were all about us, dark and imposing in the
night. The pace of the horses was that of a trot, yet we seemed to
be traveling at a much faster pace. Once more, I wondered at the
true nature of the horses, but dared not ask any more questions. I
was grateful for the companionship and curious about my new
friend.

And I was certain he
was
a new friend. Adem
was in some ways frightening to gaze upon with his scars and
imposing manner, but there was such wonderful warmth about him that
I could not help but trust him. Perhaps my solitude had made me
foolish, but I could not help myself.

“Was it near Bârgău Pass?”
Adem asked, breaking our silence.

“I am not certain. Perhaps.”

I tried to recall my journeys to
Erzsébet’s resting place. I remembered it was some distance from
the castle, but we had been traveling with supernatural haste. Each
time I had visited her, it had been during the winter with snow
thick on the ground.

“I do believe I know a place that could
be the graveyard you described. I have seen it once or twice when
hunting in the mountains.”

“Very well. Take us there!” My voice
was rich with my excitement. “Let us find her!”

With a roar, he dug his heels into the
sides of his mount and the horse flew into the night. Excited, I
mirrored his action and the horse beneath me instantly responded
and gave pursuit. The ground practically disappeared beneath its
flying hooves. The world slid by so swiftly, I scarcely caught
sight of the whitewashed cottages and quaint farmlands. Laughter
erupted from my lips as my ears filled with the sound of rushing
wind. Only the moon and stars above remained solitary and at peace.
It was as if a painter had smudged all of the earth with the stroke
of his brush as the trees, cottages, and mountains were reduced to
a smear of colors rushing past me.

Abruptly, Adem’s horse veered off the
road, crashed into the brush, and climbed into the forest. My horse
slowed, but followed, its footing sure as it rushed through the
dark foliage. I clung to my hat, my head low to avoid the branches
clutching at my hair and face. The world smelled of fresh rain and
rich earth.

Adem’s horse found an abandoned path
skipping through the trees and thundered onto it. I pursued,
clutching the reins tightly. Birds rustled in the trees as we
awakened them from their slumber. Forest animals darted off to
hide, least we be predators. The world was alive and so beautiful,
I felt liberated. My earlier anger and fear dissipated as I
relished the freedom of the moment.

The horses slowed to a quick walk as we
reached the remnants of an old town. It had burned and the
whitewashed facades were streaked black and gray. No human remained
in the town and only weeds and scrub dwelt in the empty shells of
the buildings that had once sheltered the townsfolk and their
wares.