The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (6 page)

“No. I wanted him to, but he always
dismissed my requests.”

Adem motioned to the dagger lying near
us. “You don’t know how to use that weapon, do you?”

“No. Nor a sword.”

“I shall teach you then,” Adem decided.
“And teach you how not to be cornered by your enemy.”

“I am sorry I caused us both to be
wounded.”

Laughing, Adem shook his head. “Ghouls
are terribly powerful when in a graveyard. Death feeds them and
fills them with power, much like blood does with a vampire. We were
immediately at a disadvantage.”

“What I know of my own powers and how
to defend myself, I learned from my vampire mother, Cneajna. I
truly do not know as much as I should about my own abilities.” My
tattered sleeves were soaked with my blood, but my wounds were
nearly completely healed now. Sadly, I plucked at the lace at my
cuffs. “I have much to learn.”

“I shall do my best to teach you what I
do know.”

The reek of the ghoul corpses was
overwhelming, causing my eyes to sting. “We should go now. She is
not here.”

“Agreed.”

Adem slid easily to his feet and
offered his hand to me. I took it gratefully as he pulled me up.
Together we walked across the abandoned graveyard, leaving the
gruesome bodies behind.

“What will happen to the ghouls?” I
asked. “Will they burn in the sun like vampires?”

“Thankfully, yes.”

We reached the horses and Adem helped
me onto my steed. I reeked of the ghouls’ foul blood and my fine
dress was in shreds. I was sure I looked the sad sight.

“Do not fret, Countess Dracula. Should
she be nearby, we can find her.”

With a weary sigh, I shook my head.
“She is gone. I feel it. He has taken her from me and I am alone.”
I felt close to tears.

“I am here. Perhaps that is little
solace considering all that has happened to you, but I will protect
you and be your friend.” Adem gazed at me solemnly, but a slight
smile turned up the edges of his scarred lips.

“How can I trust you?” I asked, feeling
morose. “Astir sent you.”

“How can you not?” he answered with a
sudden, wide grin. “Lord Astir sent me.”

I laughed at his response and shook my
head. “Very well, dear friend, let us return to the hotel so I may
bathe and restore myself.” I thought of Katya slumbering in my bed
and was grateful that the convenient little thing would provide an
adequate feeding to restore my lost strength.

Spurring on my horse, I raced back down
the path toward my haven with Adem following close
behind.

Dear Lord
Astir,

As you requested, I have
arrived and offered my services to Countess Dracula. She has
accepted me as her guardian and as her friend. I find her just as
you described: passionate, impulsive, and charming. She is also
very secretive despite her penchant to speak freely and with little
reservation despite our fresh acquaintance. I have noted that she
looks away when speaking of her husband. I suspect all is not as
she claims. I shall not press her for further information until we
are better acquainted.

Your loyal
servant,

Adem

May 11, 1820

Dearest Adem,

Always faithful. You
delight me. As soon as you ascertain what has befallen Count
Dracula, please dispatch a message immediately.

As for the situation in
Buda, it seems close to resolution. We shall keep that to ourselves
until we know what our little Countess is so secretive
about.

Astir

Chapter 4

The Journal of Countess
Dracula

May 21, 1820

The Golden Krone Hotel,
Bistriţa

I woke to hear the bells
ringing, summoning the parishioners to worship at the church near
the hotel. Lying in my bed, shrouded in darkness, I listened to the
creak of the wagons rolling down the street as the faithful passed
on their way to the services. I could hear the families talking
while they walked by the hotel and thought of my own family now
long dead. I longed to attend services again with my mother,
father, sister and brother. I would willingly endure a boring
sermon if only I could see my mother’s rapt attention on the words
of the priest as she clutched her rosary in her hand.

Curled up under my covers,
I soon heard singing and the sound of the hymns caused me to shiver
with discomfort. I would not dare to enter a church for fear of
God’s holy wrath pouring down upon me.

I am damned. Utterly
damned.

I was overcome with tears
at the thought of my beloved Ignatius, torn away from God, his
church, and the sunlight. He is all that is good and bright in my
life and I know not where he is. Astir sent me a short message two
days ago stating once more that Ignatius’s whereabouts are unknown.
I am heartbroken.

And the dreams...the
dreams...they continue...

After scribbling in my diary for a
short period, I fell asleep. This time I was aware that I was
trapped in a dream when I felt Vlad’s strong hands against my
flesh. I immediately tried to awaken as I saw my covers slowly
swell upwards to take on the shape of his body. His long hair
poured over my thighs and I could feel his mustache and beard
against my skin.

In my dream, I slammed my hand over and
over against my cheek, trying to wake myself. I cried out for mercy
as he bit deeply into the delicate, hidden spot between my legs.
The pleasure of his bite filled me and my hands fluttered over the
blanket covering his head. Writhing, I tried to escape my dream,
crying out for assistance.

Dracula’s sharp fangs slid out of my
flesh as his tongue and lips found the places that brought me the
greatest pleasure. I flailed as I tried to push him away from me. I
always hated him for the way he could make me writhe and cry
out.

“Vlad!” I sobbed.

One strong, muscled arm pushed out from
my covers and his hand settled over my heart. It was racing beneath
his fingers. I pressed my feet against his hips, trying to push him
from me. But, God help me, I struggled with my resolve. I was
gasping and shuddering with sweet agony as his tongue seduced
me.

“Vlad!”

Like a snake striking, he rose swiftly
from beneath the covers, his hips pressed hard against mine. He
hovered over me, his muscled chest, neck, and mouth stained with my
blood. His green eyes flashed red.

“Release me, and I shall make love to
you as before,” he whispered.

“No, never!”

“Come to me. Restore me. Release me, my
love.” His mouth found mine in a smoldering kiss.

“No!” I gasped against his lips. “No.
This is my life! You are but a phantom! You are not
real!”

Laughing his rich, dark laugh, he
lowered his head. “Are you so certain?” His teeth bit savagely into
my throat.

I woke screaming.

It was only seconds before Adem burst
into my room, his sword in his hand. He must have been sleeping,
for he was barefooted and clad only in trousers. I was horrified to
see the deep and terrible scars that covered his chest and arms.
Circling the room, he soon realized I was alone.

Shivering under my covers, I pressed my
face into my pillows, stifling sobs.

“I heard you cry out,” Adem finally
said, mystified.

“I did. It was a nightmare. I am sorry
for disturbing you.”

Closing the door, Adem stood with his
hand upon the wood. He did not look toward me, respecting my
privacy.

“I heard you call out your husband’s
name.”

“It was a nightmare. He was in
it.”

“He has hurt you,” Adem
stated.

“Yes.”

“Beyond the murder of your
family.”

“Yes.”

“And that is what you dreamed
of?”

I sobbed in disgrace, nodding my head
though he could not see me. “I am sorry, Adem, for awakening you
with ridiculous dreams.”

“I am just glad you are safe and
unharmed,” Adem responded in a hushed voice. “I will go now.” He
began to open the door, but hesitated. “I am sorry for whatever he
has done to you and that I could not help you in that time of great
need and despair.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Silently, he exited my room, closing
and locking the door behind him.

Sobbing, I sat in my bed, listening to
the distant choir as my heart cried out for Ignatius.

May 22, 1820

Dearest Countess
Dracula,

I have received the
correspondence from your husband with instructions to set up a
separate account in your name to enable you to begin the
appropriate measures to restore his estate. I understand that he is
consumed with his other dealings at this time and I will assist you
in any way possible. Upon your return to Buda, I suggest we have a
meeting in which I will lay out all the details of the Dracula Buda
Estate.

I am always at your
disposal.

Sir Stephan

I tossed down the letter and snorted
with contempt. I could feel his disdain seeping from his words. He
hated that he was to treat me as he would my dear husband. I
flicked the letter with my fingers, sending it sailing across my
desk. The Baroness' letter was no better. It was a desperate,
sopping mess of false sentimentality, full of promises of her
friendship and her declarations that she was my ever faithful
servant. It was disgusting. But I was also comforted that they both
believed that the correspondence I had faked from Vlad had been
taken as genuine. These letters had arrived by regular post, not by
Astir’s special courier. I wondered why Astir did not feel the need
to swiftly deliver the mail from Vlad’s minions to me, but then it
is always best to not think too much about Astir. He makes my head
hurt with his vagaries.

Relieved, I pulled out my pen and
paper, and settled down to write my responses.

Journal of Countess
Dracula

May 25, 1820

The Golden Krone Hotel,
Bistriţa

Adem and I continue to
search for Erzsébet. I despair that she is lost to me, but he will
not let me give up all hope. We have sought out and searched every
graveyard we can uncover in these mountains. Our excursions on our
mysterious black horses are always exhilarating.

Though our quests
inevitably end in the failure to uncover my lost sister, I have
come to enjoy the moments that follow when we cease our search and
Adem trains me to fight. He has been immensely patient with me in
every regard. I am well aware that I am quite difficult at times,
but I have been trying to obey his instructions. We have started
with knife training, though I rather fancied the idea of carrying
about a sword. He has even had special sheaths delivered that I can
tuck into my clothes. The weapons are silver with ornate gold
hilts, therefore a formidable weapon against the ghouls and other
vampires. I am already fond of the weapons and admire how they look
tucked into my hands.

We often find a meadow to
battle in, allowing the horses to graze under the night sky as we
stand in the darkened world, our blades glinting while Adem
instructs me with great patience. We move at a languid pace as he
teaches me to anticipate my opponent’s movements and react
accordingly. I often think we appear as slowly moving statues as we
swing our blades around in a battle that is as indolent as a
tortoise...

“...shift your weight to your other
hip,” Adem ordered.

Pouting, I complied, hearing my hem
tear. “I am standing on my petticoat!”

“As you will be in battle. Do you think
a vampire hunter, a vampire, a ghoul, or any other opponent will
stand still while you fuss with your dress?” He raised his heavy
eyebrows, his expression one of amusement.

My dagger clanked against his as I
leisurely moved to defend myself against his sweeping blow. “No,
but I like this petticoat and this is my only other riding habit
after those horrible ghouls ruined the other one.

With a graceful, yet horribly idle
motion, Adem advanced to knock me off balance.

Already standing on my dress, I strove
to counter, only to fall into the dew-slick tall grass.
“Ugh!”

Not allowing me to sulk at my disaster,
Adem continued his attack, bringing the dagger down toward my
chest.

Falling on my elbows, I raised one leg
and shoved my foot into his stomach, kicking. My movement was
executed with my normal strength and speed. He flew, crashing into
the horses. They nipped at him, whinnying, sounding as if they were
laughing at him.

“That was a very good move,
Countess.”

“I’m muddy!”

“Yes, you are.”

I leaped to my feet and quickly brushed
off my clothes. His next attack was unexpected and swift. I barely
had time to react. I managed to force my forearm up and under his
thrusting arm, wrenching it to the side, pulling his blade away
from my body. With my other hand, I gripped his throat, squeezing
lightly.