Abandoned to the Night (The Brotherhood Series, Book 3) (19 page)

Alexander’s expression grew dark. “I cannot even bear to think of it. But he is dead now and so we must celebrate the victory.”

“Good Lord,” Ivana gasped suddenly, remembering Nikolai had arrived in a carriage. “I assume Nikolai’s carriage has been stabled in the outer courtyard. But where is his coachman? We cannot let him leave to tell the tale of what happened here.”

“Sylvester will know,” Elliot said. “I will wipe the coachman’s memory of this night, make him believe he is to wait for his master in the next town and send him on his way. I doubt Nikolai would have informed anyone of his reason for coming here.”

“Nikolai never discussed his private affairs.” It occurred to her to mention the cure, but they were all soaked to the skin, all in need of dry clothes and good company, and there was still work to do.

A sudden clap of thunder caused them all to look up to the heavens.

“Do you think God is applauding our efforts?” Ivana asked wrapping her arms around Leo’s waist. “Do you think he is pleased now that he has one less devil to contend with?”

“Most certainly,” Elliot replied. “I must also applaud your efforts, Ivana, for caring for my son in my absence. When I return, I would like to discuss the matter with you if I may.”

Ivana inclined her head. “Of course. But for the moment, I suggest we go inside and spend a few minutes by the fire. Our lips are blue, and I think it will take more than a vial of blood to restore them to their natural hue.”

Leo glanced at the body littering the courtyard. “Once Elliot has dealt with the coachman, what shall we do with Nikolai?”

Ivana shrugged. When it came to Nikolai, her heart was cold, empty. She could not rouse even a sliver of pity. “We will do what he threatened to do to me once. We will leave him there until the sun rises. Then we will venture outside come nightfall and watch the pile of dust blow away in the wind.”

A little over an hour later, they all sat around the long table at the far end of the Great Hall. The fire roared in the hearth, and Ivana feared it would take weeks to warm their bones. As expected, both Grace and Evelyn were ecstatic to be at the castle, and despite learning of Nikolai’s fate, the ladies had been spared the true horror of the ordeal.

Ivana sat at the head of the table and watched in wonder as Elliot popped a piece of beef into his mouth. “Do you not retch when you chew it?”

“I did at first.” He dabbed his lips with a napkin and raised his goblet of blood in salute. “But now I have mastered the art.”

“Does it not taste strange?”

“No. Even though it’s cooked, I can still taste the essence of blood.”

Ivana could not help but smile. It did feel rather more civilised to sit and watch others eat. She could not participate. Any food at the castle was for the servants’ consumption. There had been enough to provide a few small meals, but she did not want to empty the larder completely.

Fear played a part, too. She was scared. She had finally come to terms with the nature of her affliction, accepted who she was now. The sense of hopelessness had eased over the years. To go back, to act as though she was human would only serve to open old wounds.

Of course, things would be different if they found the cure.

The thought caused her heart to race.

Since Nikolai’s death, no one had mentioned it. Perhaps they suspected it was a lie used as a form of bribery. Perhaps they were all relieved to be alive and could not think past that. Whatever the reason, she owed it to them to divulge what she knew.

How would they take the news?

How would they cope with the disappointment if they failed to find it?

The need to calm her nerves, to feel a wave of tranquillity wash over, pushed to fore. She wished she had emptied her blood into a goblet as a sip of the burgundy liquid would surely bring instant relief.

Ivana cleared her throat to rouse their attention. “There is a matter of some importance we should discuss.” She resisted the urge to jump to her feet in eagerness, to race from room to room emptying drawers and cupboards. “Something that affects all of us.”

Elliot placed his cutlery on his plate and coughed into his napkin as he stood. “Forgive me. But before you continue, I would like to speak if I may.”

Ivana inclined her head. “Of course,” she said suppressing her impatience.

“I have no secrets from the people around this table,” Elliot began, taking his wife’s hand as she sat by his side. “Leo and Alexander are my kin, family I would have never come to know had it not been for the terrifying nature of our affliction. Now we are brothers in every sense of the word.”

Evelyn picked up her napkin and dabbed at the corner of her eyes.

“God saw fit to send me an angel.” Elliot brought Grace’s hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly. “To guide me, to show me what it means to love another. I see the same sense of hope in Alexander’s eyes when he looks at Evelyn. Now I see it in Leo’s eyes, too.”

Ivana stared at him, mesmerised by his strength of presence. He appeared so different from the licentious rake she had met in the mausoleum. It eased her guilt to know that through his experiences he had become a better man.

“Ivana.” He bowed graciously. “I cannot completely understand your motives for cursing us with such a monstrous affliction. But I am assured you believed your reasons to be just. And so, I extend the hand of friendship. I offer you my thanks, for my brothers and my friends, for the angel at my side and for caring for the sweet boy I am yet to meet.”

A pain in Ivana’s throat forced her to gulp. She tried to speak, but she struggled to form the words. When her gaze locked with Leo’s her heart felt so full she thought it might burst from her chest. Was this what if felt like to be truly happy?

As Elliot sat down, all heads turned her way. She knew she should stand and say something in response, but feared her legs lacked the strength to support her body.

Sucking in a breath, she gripped the arms of the chair. “Despite the curse I placed upon you, it warms my heart to know … to know you have flourished, found peace and joy. For many years, this house has been a place of fear. It has been a place where hatred lingered in the shadows, where despair walked the empty corridors at night. Now it is a place of love, friendship, and hope.” With the absence of a goblet, she raised her hands in the air. “And so I ask you to dedicate your toast to happiness, whatever form it may take.”

The gentlemen raised their goblets. Ivana joined them in their cheers: a heartfelt good riddance to her nightmares and soon the conversation erupted around her. There were but a few hours left until dawn, yet her guests appeared to be comfortable, relaxed.

“You are all welcome to stay here,” Ivana said, enjoying the noise and bustle after years of sitting alone in deathly silence.

Evelyn glanced at her husband and smiled. “That would be wonderful if it’s not too much trouble.”

“Not at all. I shall ask Julia to prepare the rooms.” She turned her attention to Elliot. “Tomorrow we shall visit Herr Bruhn and the children. But for the hours remaining, I must bring your attention to the matter I mentioned earlier.”

Leo cast her a quizzical glance and leant towards her. “Do you wish to speak of the cure?” he whispered.

She couldn’t concentrate with his mouth so close to her ear, and she shivered as she imagined him trailing kisses down the column of her neck. “I do.”

Leo sat back and inhaled deeply.

Ivana stood. “As I am sure you are all aware, Nikolai was an expert in mind manipulation. He made me forget many things, memories from the first few days we spent together here. Upon his death, those memories were restored to me.” She shrugged and threw her hands in the air. “Do not ask me how such a thing is possible as I do not know. What I can tell you is that Nikolai was a man who wanted everything. He wanted the strength and ability to control the minds of his people. He wanted to walk in the sun and raise offspring to bolster his army. To possess the power to flit between night and day gave Nikolai an advantage over his enemies. Such a feat is only achieved by drinking an elixir that cleanses the blood.”

“Cleanses the blood.” Alexander straightened as he repeated her words. “Do you mean the cure for our affliction?”

Evelyn gasped as her eyes grew wide with disbelief. “There is a cure for the disease that ails them?”

“I believe so, yes,” Ivana replied. “I had a vague recollection of biting Nikolai. Now, I know he suffered from the affliction when he bit me. I know he used me to bite him again once he had taken the elixir.”

Elliot cleared his throat. “And you think he came back here to cleanse himself again?”

“I do. The cure is hidden somewhere in this castle. I have never seen it and Nikolai never mentioned where he kept it.”

They all fell silent as they scanned the Great Hall, their gazes drifting up to the wooden arches and moving to the stuffed animal heads littering the walls.

“There must be many rooms here,” Grace said.

Ivana nodded. “There are forty-three if you count the dungeons.”

“You said it is an elixir.” Leo touched her arm affectionately as he spoke. “So we are looking for a vial, a bottle or something similar.”

Ivana raised her brows and shrugged. “I assume so.”

Leo suddenly jumped to his feet. “Well, if there is a cure lying somewhere in this castle, I do not intend to sit around discussing the matter. Where will I find paper and ink?”

“On the desk in the study.” Ivana stared at him and pointed to the door at the end of the hall. “It’s along the corridor, the second door on the left. Why, what do you intend to do?”

“I’m going to draw a map. I’m going to start at the top and work my way down until I find what we’re looking for.”

Alexander and Elliot stood too.

“It will be quicker if we all work together,” Elliot suggested. “We have a few hours until sunrise and can continue tomorrow evening.”

Grace stood up. “Evelyn and I can search the rooms during the daylight hours.”

Leo smiled. “Just think, come the morning we might never have to worry about being caught in the sun again.”

Collectively they sucked in a deep breath.

Ivana was not prone to fanciful musings, but she closed her eyes and imagined sitting on the grass, eating fruit while the sun warmed her skin. Leo was at her side shielding his eyes from the brilliant rays; their children ran about laughing and giggling whilst at play. Life appeared heavenly.

Dare she hope such an idyllic dream could be possible?

Or like a skilled partner in a game of chess, would Nikolai have anticipated their move.

Chapter 17

Leo took paper and a pot of ink from the study, and they all made their way to the tower bedchamber.

“It will be quicker if we divide into pairs,” Alexander suggested as they gathered beside the bed.

That had been Leo’s initial thought. He trusted his brothers to do a thorough job, but if they failed to find the cure, the compulsive part of his nature would force him to scour the rooms again.

“I think we should stay together,” Leo said feeling more confident in his decision. “Ivana’s knowledge regarding the history and layout of the castle will be invaluable. None of us would notice if a painting or an item of furniture was missing or out of place and there is a possibility she might remember something important.”

Elliot nodded. “I agree. The castle is Ivana’s home. It is only fitting she should decide how best to proceed.”

Ivana clasped her hands together in prayer and tapped the tips of her fingers to her lips. After a moment’s silence, she said, “Leo is right. There is every chance another memory will return as we walk through the corridors. We will stay together. That way we will all be confident nothing has been missed.”

Leo placed the paper and ink on the side table. “If we are staying together there is little point in me drawing a plan.” He turned to Ivana. “Is this the only room on this level?”

Ivana nodded. “Yes, but as I spend every night in here, I think I would know if Nikolai had hidden anything in this room.”

Leo agreed. He imagined Nikolai would hide it somewhere obscure. In a place where few people had need to venture. “Are there four floors including this one?” Even though he had been a guest at the castle for a few days, he had spent most of his time in Ivana’s bedchamber.

Ivana muttered a few words as she counted on her fingers. “Five if you include the dungeon. But it is just a row of single cells. There are no furnishings, no pictures or distinguishing marks on the wall.”

“It could be concealed behind a loose block of stone,” Alexander offered, “although I imagine it’s rather dank down there.”

Elliot cleared his throat. “I would expect the bottle or vial to be kept in a vault or a chest. Such a fragile item could not be left open to the elements. Surely Nikolai would not risk it being broken or contaminated.”

“I know it is not the same,” Evelyn said eagerly. “But my aunt once bought me a small selection of perfumes. The tiny glass bottles were kept in a small padded case. Perhaps the cure is stored in something similar.”