The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (55 page)

Lady Astir made an
unexpected appearance clad in a long green velvet gown and glorious
red hat. To Magda’s delight, she brought along Magda’s child. The
little boy joyously flung himself into Magda’s arms and made us all
laugh.

Astir was in a rather good
mood and surprised us with gifts. Laura received a lovely hat to
match the coat I bought her before her death. Ignatius was less
than pleased with a gift of the writings of Saint Ignatius, but
Astir thought it was a grand joke. She reclaimed the book and gave
him a pocket watch instead. As for me, she gave me a ring. It’s an
aquamarine in a white gold setting. She took it from the box and
slid it onto the finger where I had once worn Vlad’s
ring.

Though he no longer haunts
my dreams, I sometimes wish I still wore the cursed ring as
protection. But this ring is a lovely substitute. It is bright and
lovely unlike the ring Vlad had given me.

“What shall you tell all your society
gossips when spring comes and your husband is obviously not
returning?” Astir asked, tilting her head so her exquisite diamond
drop earrings glittered in the candlelight.

Katya and Laura looked up from where
they were admiring Laura’s new hat. Magda was seated near the fire
feeding her little boy a bit of pastry while Adem watched them with
affection. They both directed their attention toward me, awaiting
my answer.

Ignatius took my hand and gazed down at
the ring, then up at my matching eyes. “Yes, my love, what will you
say?”

I pondered the question, then shrugged
my shoulders. “I’m sure I shall think of something.”

Astir tossed back her head and laughed.
“Of course.”

Gazing at my beloved, I smiled. “It
would be a scandal to say I am now divorced and remarried to a
priest.”

“Though it would be amusing to see how
they respond to that proclamation,” he decided before pressing his
lips to mine, his hand covering the ring. I returned the kiss with
fervor and when we parted we were flushed with joy.

Returning my attention to Astir, I saw
that her eyes were closed in rapture. Slowly, she opened them and
let out a sigh.

“What is it, Astir?” I
wondered.

“So that is it,” she said with
awe.

“What is?”

Ignatius looked amused as Astir fanned
herself.

“The blissful aspect of love,” she said
at last.

Sitting beside my love, gazing at my
friends and family gathered around the Christmas tree, I knew
exactly what she meant.

Chapter 37

The Journal of Lady Glynis
Wright

April 4, 1821

Spring has come and all the
fears and terrors of the winter are behind us. Vlad Dracula has
been neither seen nor heard from since that fateful night when I
reclaimed my freedom, my name, and established my house.

Our beloved Percy has been
laid to rest in the same mausoleum as my family. Laura and I often
leave flowers for him.

Oh, Percy, how I miss
you.

I often dream of my dear
friend. He is always smiling and happy to see me and Laura. In my
dreams he always touches our cameos and tells us he is still
watching over us.

In truth, we found out
Percy was watching over us in a way we never would have imagined.
Adem uncovered letters in Percy’s coat revealing he was in
correspondence with my brother, Andrew, in England. Apparently,
Andrew had asked Percy to look after me and make certain that I was
doing well. In his last letter to Andrew that was not posted, Percy
spoke of my brother’s fears being true. He did not detail these
fears, but now I wonder if Percy suspected my vampire nature. Upon
reflection of some of my conversations with him, I can only
wonder.

How does this affect my
relationship with my brother? I am uncertain. I continue to
correspond with him, and I am preparing to inform him that I am now
divorced. I know he will be both relieved and
scandalized.

Now that my new solicitor
has made certain that all of the Baroness’ wealth has been
transferred to me, I am ready to announce to the world I am once
more Lady Glynis Wright. This will, of course, cause a great
commotion in my social circle, but I shall survive it.

I have survived all
else.

I am free at
last.

I am Lady Glynis Wright of
the House of Wright.

And I am happy.

Epilogue

The Journal of Lady Glynis
Wright

May 21, 1821

I am shivering with fear as
I struggle to grasp the event that has just occurred. Ignatius
slumbers beside me as I write these words, and I wish not to
disturb him until I have regained my senses.

I am still
trembling...

It all began when I had the
most peculiar dream…

I saw Vlad Dracula walking
through the gardens of the Dosza Palace. He was dressed elegantly
in a gray suit with a tall hat on his head and shaded glasses upon
his nose. Striding through our gardens, he inspected the flowers
with significant attentiveness.

What is truly odd about the
dream was that Vlad was walking in daylight. I could see the red
glints of his dark auburn hair illuminated in the bright sunlight.
I would suppose it was near noon for the sun was high in the
sky.

Glancing at Ignatius’s
pocket watch on the bed stand, I now surmise that would have been
just a short while ago.

In my dream he found a
beautiful, pure white bloom that appeared to suit his purpose and
sliced it from the bush with a silver dagger. Satisfied, he
strolled purposefully toward the palace.

As you often do in dreams,
I floated along behind him as he entered through the French doors
off the patio and wound his way through the house while deftly
avoiding all our servants.

At last, he climbed up the
grand staircase holding the white rose aloft.

Now, my dear diary, this is
the horrifying part of the dream. He entered the room where I lay
asleep in Ignatius’s arms. With a wicked smile, Vlad approached our
bed as we slept. Gently, he disengaged me from Ignatius’s embrace,
turning me so I lay upon my back. Leaning over, he kissed me
tenderly upon the mouth.

“We shall be reunited, my
love. You and I shall rule all vampires and watch the world smolder
at our feet. You are mine,” he whispered against my
lips.

Setting the rose upon my
bed stand, he kissed the petals, then slipped out of the
room.

I awoke with a start when I
heard the bedroom door close. Snatching up my robe, I ran to the
door and wrenched it open. Though my sitting room was empty, I
heard footsteps in the hall beyond. My heart beating rapidly within
my chest, I hurried out into the hallway. Per my edict, all the
windows are covered so that the palace is plunged into a perpetual
dusk during the hours of the day.

The sound of steps
retreating down the staircase echoed through the long corridor.
With inhuman speed, I rushed to the banister and leaned over
it.

Below Vlad Dracula strode
across the foyer to the front doors of my home. I gasped in horror
and he heard me. Lifting his head, he lightly touched the brim of
his top hat, smiled, and opened the door.

Sunlight flooded the foyer
and washed over him. I crouched in the shadows of a pillar in
terror as he stood in the blazing light of the day staring up at
me. Adjusting his glasses, he smiled once more, and
departed.

The door shut behind him,
plunging the foyer into shadows.

Terrified, I fled to my
room where I now sit, huddled in my bed trembling for I realize
that what I experienced was no mere dream or mirage. For you see,
dearest diary...

...how it terrifies me to
write this...

...when I returned to my
bed a white rose sat upon my bed stand with a single drop of blood
resting upon its perfect petals...

LGW

About the Author

RFrater works and lives in Austin,Texas
with her husband. 

She loves reading, movies, gaming, and
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