The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (13 page)

Daring to look into his flaming eyes, I
implored, “Teach me to hide it.”

“I may be able to, but that shall take
time. Therefore, you are not allowed into my haven.
Understood?”

“Yes,” I snorted.

“You can do as you wish with Vlad’s
minions. They were his and now they are yours. Just do nothing that
will bring attention to your true nature. I advise you to cultivate
the lifestyle of a mortal countess to the best of your ability.
Vlad was a fearsome vampire, but a respected member of the
aristocracy in Buda. None knew of his true nature unless he willed
it. You must follow his example.”

“Very well. That is what I had planned
to do anyway,” I said, chaffing under his edicts.

“And you must not pursue Ignatius. If
he discovers what has happened, it will cause great turmoil
instantly. He will be forced to tell his Mistress what has become
of Vlad. He is loyal first to her.”

I gave Astir a fierce glare. “And if he
comes to me?”

“We shall deal with it then. Stay in
Buda. Do not rush after Ignatius. Do not risk your life until you
are more established.” Astir lightly tapped my chin. “Do as I say
and you can return to Buda.”

“And if I do not?”

“I will keep you lost in the mountains
until you relent,” Astir answered.

I believed his threat and did not doubt
he was capable of doing such a thing. Angry, yet excited, I
grudgingly accepted his terms.

“We shall depart tomorrow night,” Astir
decided. “That should give Magda sufficient time to pack your
things and prepare.”

I smiled at the thought of returning to
the city. To be far away from the castle and Vlad would be
wonderful.

“Do you know what I told our dear Count
Dracula when he told me about you?”

I shrugged slightly though I was truly
intrigued.

“That you would be the ruin of him. I
said, ‘Vlad, you silly man, you should never love a redhead. They
are fire made manifest. She’ll destroy you.’ And I was right,”
Astir said, gloating a bit.

“What did he answer you?” I asked,
curious.

Astir leaned toward me in a
conspiratorial manner. “He said I was a false prophet speaking
lies. And yet, here you are. And where is he?”

I felt chilled by his words and
shivered.

With a laugh, Astir stood, kissed my
hand, and walked out. His peals of merriment taunted me as Magda
and Adem stepped into the parlor.

“We return to Buda tomorrow night,” I
informed them. “And pray I forgive you both by then.”

Leaving them, I rushed to my room and
flung myself across my bed. Tears of joy and relief streamed down
my face and bloodied the coverlet. I did not care.

I was returning to Buda.

Chapter 9

The Journal of Countess
Dracula

June 11, 1820

The Golden Krone Hotel,
Bistriţa

Tonight we depart for
Buda! I am thrilled beyond all comprehension! To once again be in a
cosmopolitan city shall be a tremendous relief! I am so happy to be
on my way at last, I can even forgive Astir for insisting we return
to Buda without the benefit of his magicks. I still do not trust
him completely, but I do believe he will not free Vlad. I think he
speaks the truth when he says I amuse him.

We are departing by Astir’s
private carriage and Adem has arranged for another cart to follow,
carrying the coffins of my family. In just a week I shall once
again be in the city where I met and fell in love with Ignatius.
Despite all that Astir warned, I hope that my love will return to
the city and find me.

I have decided to pardon
Magda and Adem. Perhaps it is my utter relief to finally be
returning to Buda that has me in such a merciful mood, but my anger
over their deceit had faded by the time all my trunks were packed.
I have yet to inform them that they are absolved, but I shall tell
them when I find a suitable time. Besides, in my heart I may have
forgiven them, but I am not inclined to inform them just
yet.

I am saddened to depart
without determining the fate of my beloved sister, Erzsébet, yet I
can no longer linger in seclusion. I must leave behind the past and
forge forward in my plans.

Once my traveling trunks
are removed from my room, we shall be off!

Dressed to travel in a long coat, scarf
and gloves, I pulled on my bonnet as I trailed after the men
carrying my luggage downstairs. Magda followed, carrying a small
travel case. She appeared anxious, but I could not imagine what was
to fear now that we were departing. Unless, of course, she thought
I would never forgive her. I graced her with a small smile to
alleviate her worry and she returned it thankfully. Just as we
neared the top of the stairs, Adem rushed up to join us.

“We have a complication,” Adem informed
me.

“Whatever is it?” I asked, not really
caring about some issue with our travel plans. “And can you take
care of it immediately?”

“It is Katya and I believe you may need
to intercede before things escalate any further,” Adem answered,
his expression unusually grim. “I attempted to handle the situation
and failed. Lord Astir is now attempting to calm the situation, but
it is not going well.”

“Truly? What has she done now?” I had
started down the stairs, but paused at his words. Short of her
informing the local priest of my nature, I really couldn’t imagine
how she could cause any harm or cause such anxiety in
Adem.

Adem drew a breath, then said in a rush
of words, “She had relations with Enre and her father discovered
them in the act. He is enraged and disgraced. Lord Astir finds it
amusing, so is being no help whatsoever.”

I gaped at Adem. “How could he be so
foolish? This is a scandal!”

“If you are speaking of Lord Astir, he
loves scandals. If you are speaking of Enre, I have had harsh words
with him. He is remorseful. I had him leave to scout the road ahead
to remove him from the situation so I could attempt to placate
Toma, Katya’s father. Sadly, I failed and Lord Astir is not faring
well either.”

“What does Toma desire to settle the
issue, Adem?”

“Katya’s father is demanding an
immediate marriage and recompense.”

“Does Enre love her?” I asked, arching
my eyebrow.

“No,” Adem conceded. “He does
not.”

“Oh, dear,” Magda whispered.

“Katya is foolish, but I expected more
of Enre. Why on earth did he seduce her if he did not love her? Did
he not consider the ramifications?” I realized my voice was rising
and I took a breath to calm my nerves.

“He claims she plied him with wine and
seduced him,” Adem replied. “Of course, her story is contrary to
his.”

“Of course.”

“I’m inclined to believe him,” Adem
continued.

“Of course, you are. You’re a man,” I
grumbled irritably.

I hurried down the stairs to find the
quarrelers and settle the argument so we could depart. I was done
with the hotel and the drama.

It was not difficult to find, Toma,
Katya’s father. His angry voice boomed through the lower floor. I
found Toma, his frightened wife, a weeping Katya, and Astir
gathered in the parlor. Katya wailed, huddled in her mother’s arms
as the older woman tried to calm her. Katya’s mother had harsh
lines about her mouth and eyes, but she strongly resembled her
daughter.

“Lord Astir, she is in disgrace!”
Katya’s mother declared in a fierce voice.

“Oh, please. It’s not as if the girl
was a virgin,” Astir scoffed.

Toma was so angry I thought the veins
in his neck would rupture. “Do not speak of her in that way! She is
an innocent!”

“Who has let Count Dracula play with
her many a time, hasn’t she? But this time it is a mere guard, not
a count with a full purse to encourage you to forget about any
indiscretion,” Astir decided. “I’m not about to pay you for the use
of your daughter. I didn’t indulge in her feminine wiles and Enre
is a man of humble means.”

“Astir,” I said warningly, stepping
fully into the room.

The fallen angel tossed his golden hair
from his face and grinned rakishly. “Why, darling Countess Dracula,
how kind of you to join us. We have the most exciting drama
afoot.”

“Astir, do behave,” I
chided.

“Do you know what your guard did?” Toma
demanded, his blue eyes fastening upon me. “He defiled
her!”

“Countess, help me!” Katya wailed. Her
face was swollen from crying and her hair clung to her wet
face.

“Toma, what do you desire?” I asked,
making a great show of opening my purse.

“This time she could be with child!”
Katya’s mother cried out.

“True,” Astir agreed. “A vampire’s seed
is dead, but Enre is a fine human beast, virile and
potent!”

Katya’s mother gasped as her daughter
cried louder.

“Astir, please!” I scolded.

“It is not enough for you to pay,” Toma
shouted. “I will be disgraced for her sin in the eyes of the church
and this town.”

“And everyone in this hotel if you keep
shouting,” Astir pointed out.

“You don’t even know if she’s with
child,” I said in a much calmer tone. I was trying to keep my
temper, but it was not an easy task with all the shouting and
crying in the room.

“Her sin is on you! You brought that
man here and he seduced her!” Toma shoved his fair hair back from
his flushed face with a one meaty hand and glowered at me. “You
have brought a great sin down on me and my family!”

“As if it is not a sin for you to give
succor to vampires?” Astir asked.

“Astir, I suggest you remove yourself
from the room,” I said tersely. “The sooner this is resolved, the
better, and you are only making things worse. Now go.”

“I don’t see why we should pay for the
harlot. I certainly did not amuse myself with her. Though you did
take a sip or two, didn’t you?” Astir tapped his throat, winking.
“Perhaps we should pay that tab and be off.”

“Countess, please help me!” Flailing
about in her mother’s arms, Katya fought to come to me while her
mother restrained her.

“Or should we also pay for all the
times she lay with your husband on previous trips? Or did he
already pay?” Astir asked Toma.

Enraged, the man could barely speak as
he clenched his fists and raised them in Astir’s
direction.

“Astir, leave,” I ordered.

Grinning, Astir tucked back his curls,
straightened his cuffs, made a great show of donning his coat, then
left the room. I shut the door behind him. Now that Astir was gone,
Toma seemed a tad calmer, though Katya continued to
wail.

“That boy must marry her and take her
with him,” Toma declared.

“And we must have a dowry,” his wife
added.

“Lord Astir asked a very important
question. How many times has she lain with my husband without you
ever saying a word?” I queried, my gaze cold.

Katya’s parents remained
silent.

“How many times did you allow her to
come to my room knowing what I needed from her?”

Katya’s mother averted her eyes as Toma
drew in a deep breath.

“This time is different,” Toma said in
a much calmer voice, “for she could be with child.”

“I thought you interrupted their
interlude?” I lifted my eyebrows. “Didn’t you?”

“Yes, but I do not know if...” Toma
faltered, glancing at his daughter. “...if that was the only time
they were together. She does lie.”

Katya continued her sobbing and
wailing. I fought down the urge to cuff her into
silence.

“Enre does not love her and does not
wish to marry her. I will not force him or Katya into a marriage
created for the sole purpose of saving you from your own sin,” I
said shortly.

“Then take her with you.”

“No!” Toma’s wife cried out.

“Silence, Vanda. Say no more. This sin
is yours as well as mine. Once we entered our dealings with the
devil, we knew it may come to this.”

Vanda looked away, her hands still
holding Katya captive.

“I have no need of her,” I said at
last.

“You and your husband have taken her
into your rooms and feasted on her so many times she is corrupted.
That she should lay with that boy is proof of it!” Toma clutched
his thinning hair in his hands, overwhelmed with grief and
remorse.

I felt nothing but disdain for the man.
I had seen his greed whenever I opened my purse. How many times had
he bowed to my wishes, or to Vlad’s, and not tried to save Katya
from our influence? I knew Katya was corrupted by Vlad, for even I
could not control her mind. He had twisted and defiled her and
though I often found myself ready to throttle the girl, I felt
sorry for her.