Witches & Werewolves: A Sacred Oath (24 page)

“Vincent has welcomed her into the home. If you have a problem, take it up with him, Scarlett.”

Scarlett slinks in the doorway. She is enchanting and beautiful, but dangerous. Fierce emerald eyes, curly auburn hair, and milky porcelain skin.

“No one wants her here, including Vincent,” Scarlett says. “You broke the rules. And you know what the punishment is for breaking the rules.”

“It’s not up to you to enforce the rules,” Lucas says.

“If it was, you’d both be dead,” she says. Her eyes blaze into me.

“Well then, it’s a good thing you are not in charge around here,” Lucas says.

“You risk this entire coven by bringing her here,” she says. “I don’t believe in this silly little prophecy. But the werewolves do. Cerise does. And that means they will stop at nothing to destroy her. We’ve managed to coexist here for years. But this is going to start a war.”

“I trust Vincent to make the right decision about this. You should too,” Lucas says.

“Your affection for her has clouded your judgment. She is loyal to a wolf. She will betray her own kind in a heartbeat for him,” Scarlett says.

“She’s one of us now,” Lucas says.

Scarlett’s fierce eyes snap to me. “Tell me, sweet thing, where is your loyalty? Would you kill your beloved wolf to protect this coven?” Scarlett closes in on me.
 

I stumble backward, gulping in fear.
 

“Answer the question,” she demands.
 

“Stop it,” Lucas says.

Scarlett keeps advancing. I shuffle backward, toward the window. She flashes razor sharp fangs and hisses.

 
Lucas grabs her arm, but Scarlett tosses him across the room like a rag doll. He crashes into a statue, toppling it to the floor with a thud.

My back against the window ledge, Scarlett looks about to strike.
 

“Enough!” Vincent shouts, standing in the doorway.
 

Scarlett recoils.

Lucas picks himself off the floor and rights the statue.

“Scarlett, I suggest you show some hospitality to our new guest,” Vincent says.

“But Vincent—” Scarlett starts.

 
Vincent waves her off, demanding silence.

“Yes, Vincent,” Scarlett says, meekly.

“Leave us,” Vincent says.

Scarlett nods and snakes out of the room.

Vincent glances at Lucas. His eyes suggest that Lucas leave as well.

“I’ll check on you later,” Lucas says.

I nod. Lucas pulls the door shut as he leaves.
 

“Lucas should not have turned you. It is against the rules, and I will determine a fitting punishment for him. But there are certain circumstances that may make his actions excusable.”

“You mean, if I really am the one?”

Vincent nods. “Regardless, you are a vampire now. I believe vampires should take care of their own. Wouldn’t you agree?”

I nod.
 

“I believe family is the most important thing. And we have become a family here,” Vincent says. “Though, you’ll have to excuse my daughter. She can be a little abrasive around strangers.”

“Scarlett is your daughter?”

Vincent smiles in response. “While I don’t agree with Scarlett’s behavior, I do share her concerns,” Vincent says. “So, where exactly is your loyalty?”

CHAPTER 33

“I EXPECT THIS coven to come first. I expect you to sacrifice anything to protect a member of this coven. And in return, each member of this coven will sacrifice anything to protect you,” Vincent says.

“Kind of sounds like the Mafia,” I say.

“That kind of loyalty has protected this family and kept us united for hundreds of years,” he says. “I’ll give you until the morning to make a decision. If you stay, you swear your allegiance to me and this coven. I understand if you want to leave this coven. I am aware of your attachments, shall we say. But if you turn your back on this coven, you can never return. Fair enough?”

“Fair enough,” I say.

“I will see to it that you are safe while you are here.”

“Thank you.”

 
Vincent smiles and starts for the door.

“Wait,” I say. “I really have no idea what’s going on. Since I seem to be at the center of this whole problem, don’t you think it might be a good idea to fill me in?”

“You’d have to ask Cerise for the full story. But somehow I doubt you’d get the truth.”

“What does Cerise have to do with werewolves and vampires?” I ask.

“She created both of us,” Vincent says.

My eyes widen. “Then what’s her problem with vampires?”

“It all started with a German Duke, Ulrich Von Drachen, in the 15th century.”

“Not in Transylvania?”

Vincent grins. “No, not in Transylvania.”

“Go on,” I say.

“Love is really to blame,” Vincent says.

“Love?” I ask.

“Isn’t it always the culprit?” Vincent asks. “Wars have been waged over it. Empires have crumbled because of it. Civilizations destroyed.”

“You make love sound like a bad thing,” I say.
 

“Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so,” Vincent smiles, slightly. “Love is beautiful, passionate, and reckless. If it doesn’t make you go a little mad, it probably isn’t true love.”

Underneath his cool exterior, I get the sense that Vincent is a bit of a hopeless romantic.

“Vampires were born out of love. That’s why we’re such passionate creatures,” he says. “In the 15th century, Ulrich Von Drachen was madly, passionately in love with a poor peasant girl. Her name was Valeria, and her beauty was unrivaled in all the land.”

“This sounds like a fairy tale.”

“It is. One that doesn’t have a happy ending,” Vincent says, gravely. “Every man who looked upon Valeria became smitten, and she had many suitors. All of whom she turned down, including the Duke. Despite his great wealth and power, he could not attain her love, no matter what gifts he lavished upon her. This enraged the Duke, and he vowed to make Valeria his.”

“Why did she turn him down? Was he ugly?”

Vincent furrows his brow at my snarky question. “Valeria’s heart belonged to a young peasant boy. They were soon to be married. When Ulrich learned of the impending union, he flew into an uncontrollable rage. Consumed by jealousy, he made a pact with a powerful witch to attain Valeria’s love.”

“Cerise?” I ask.

Vincent nods.
 

“But she said she was 325 years old?”

Vincent chuckles. “She wishes she was only 325 years old.”

“So, what was this pact?”

“Cerise instructed Ulrich to bring Valeria’s peasant boy to the Cathedral at sunset. There, he was to slash the boy’s throat before the altar and drink his blood from the ceremonial chalis. With the boy’s blood coursing through Ulrich’s veins, he was to propose to Valeria.”

“That’s messed up,” I say.

“The Duke did exactly as instructed. Valeria accepted his proposal and fell madly in love with him. They were married that night. Ulrich von Drachen got what he wanted. But there was a price to pay.”

“Is this for real?” I ask.

“Yes, this is for real,” Vincent says.

“How do werewolves come into all of this?”

“I’m getting to that,” Vincent says, growing impatient with me. “So, may I continue?”

“Yes, please.”

“Since Ulrich drank the boy’s blood from the ceremonial cup, it gave him everlasting life. A cursed everlasting life. From then on, he would have to feast on the blood of the living in order to survive. And since he was born a vampire after sunset, he was cursed to live in the shadow of the sun, never to see the light of day again. A price that he was willing to pay in return for Valeria’s love. But Cerise deceived him.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” I say.

“With each new feeding came fresh new blood coursing through his veins. Over time, the Duke had less and less of the peasant boy’s blood within him. Day by day, Valeria’s love for the Duke faded,” Vincent says. “Valeria’s love eventually turned to hatred. Deep in her heart, she suspected that the Duke was responsible for the death of her beloved peasant boy. Now, Valeria was trapped in the Duke’s castle, bound to a man she did not love. Feeling betrayed, the Duke had Cerise imprisoned and tortured.”

“I take it she’s still pissed off about that?”

“You could say so,” Vincent says. “I don’t entirely blame her. She has many reasons to be upset.”

“How did Cerise escape from Ulrich?”

“She and Ulrich made another agreement.”

“What kind of agreement?” I ask.

“Without Valeria’s love, the Duke withdrew. He became reclusive, never leaving his chambers. He refused to feed. Ulrich became withered and weak. Upon news of his deteriorating condition, his brother Ludolf returned to the castle. He attended to the Duke in his final days, unaware of the monstrosity Ulrich had become.
 

Ludolf was a talented and famous musician, known throughout Europe. He had earned quite a reputation for his exploits with the ladies. Ludolf was charming and devastatingly handsome. Upon arrival, Valeria was instantly taken with him. His presence was magnetic. She was drawn to Ludolf, and her desire was uncontrollable. The couple fell passionately in love.”

“Whoops,” I say.

“When Ulrich learned of the affair, he made a final pact with Cerise. An unholy covenant that would create a curse which remains unto this very day,” Vincent says. “The Duke promised Cerise freedom, along with a small fortune, if she would help him take revenge on the lovers.

Cerise forged a pair of silver wedding rings, and Ulrich was to give his blessing for Ludolf to marry Valeria, after his death.”

“I thought vampires were immortal,” I say.

“We are, more or less. Lets put it this way, if we do age, it’s very slowly,” Vincent says, with a grin. “But when a vampire stops feeding, he, or she, desiccates. Goes into a sort of hibernation. The heart may beat once every few weeks, even stop completely.”

“So they only thought Ulrich was dead?”

“Exactly. Ulrich’s blessing for marriage was given under the condition that the two wed in accordance with his instructions. They had to use the rings that Cerise had forged, and the ceremony had to take place on the night of the next full moon.

Ludolf and Valeria were wed as per Ulrich’s instructions. But the rings were cursed. Ludolf was transformed by the light of the moon into a savage beast with an insatiable hunger for flesh. Specifically, Valeria’s flesh. He devoured her body in a bloody feast. The next morning he awoke to realize the horror of his actions. Ludolf was so distraught and anguished, he plunged a silver dagger into his heart, taking his own life.”
 

“And that’s how the werewolves came to be?” I ask.

“Cerise revived Ulrich to collect on her riches, but he was displeased. Upon the sight of his beloved Valeria, he wept and lamented his cruelty. He became convinced that Cerise had deceived him from the very beginning. He vowed to destroy her.

Cerise fed Ludolf’s blood to the wolves of the forest, transforming them into a legion of werewolves bound to protect her. They were bred with a hatred of vampires,” Vincent says, solemnly.
 

“How do you know all of this?”

“Lucas didn’t do a good job of introducing us,” he says, extending his hand. “My name is Vincent Von Drachen. Son of Ulrich and Valeria.”

CHAPTER 34

I TURN THE skeleton key and lock the door behind Vincent as he leaves. This old door isn’t strong enough to stop a vampire who wants to enter. But hearing the deadbolt snap into place gives me a modicum of comfort.

I have more questions now than before Vincent told me the story of Ulrich and Valeria. My mind seems occupied with questions about how Vincent grew up. His father sounds tyrannical, and his mother is dead because of his father’s actions. And because of Cerise.
 

I move to the window that overlooks the circular drive. The splashing water of the fountain is calm and soothing. Dawn is breaking. The sun will crest the horizon any moment now. I pull the heavy velvet drapes shut, and the room grows dark. Candlelight flickers. I crawl into bed and pull the covers up to my chin. The bed is comfy and plush. I don’t really need to sleep, but I fall into the deepest slumber I have ever known.

 
I am awoken about midday with an insatiable hunger. My stomach burns as if I’d swallowed a lump of red hot coal. I launch from the bed and grab a blood bag from the mini fridge. I suck it down, and it instantly satiates my need.
 

I hear the sound of muffled voices arguing below me. Scarlet bickers to Vincent about my presence. Normally, I wouldn’t be able to understand what they are saying. But with my vampire hearing, every word is crystal clear, even though they are trying to whisper.

At this point, Scarlett is just repeating her disdain for me. I tune it out. I want to talk to Ethan. But I have no phone. I can’t go outside because of the sunlight. I’m not sure if I can even leave this place at nightfall. I fall back onto the bed gazing about the room. It has become my prison.