The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (18 page)

“My lady, I sincerely apologize for the
trouble my actions have caused,” he said, his voice
trembling.

I noted how young he was, probably not
much older than I. I knew all too well how youth could bring about
a person’s downfall. Hadn’t my own impetuous nature led me on a
terrible journey of destruction? Of course, my impulsive nature had
also led me to Ignatius. It was difficult to be angry when I
realized this truth.

“Your apology is accepted,” I decided.
“I do suggest that you do not allow yourself to be swayed by
beautiful women when your duty is to protect me, or there will be
dire consequences.” I was actually uncertain as to whether or not
Astir would allow me to punish the guard, but I rather enjoyed
threatening him into compliance. Dealing with Katya was most
difficult and I had a terrible premonition that I was not yet
finished with the girl.

“I pledge that I will not be so remiss
in my duties again.”

“I need to feed,” I informed
him.

He promptly tilted his head, his eyes
lifting toward the ceiling. As I laid my hand on his shoulder, I
noted he was trembling. How vulnerable he was before me. I could
kill him and he understood his predicament, yet he willing yielded
his flesh. Luckily, my anger against him was diminished and all I
desired now was his blood. My teeth grew long and sharp as I took
him in my arms, pulling him down so I could bite. When I drew in
the first of his blood into my mouth, he ceased to shake and fell
against me in a swoon. I drank deeply, feeling the blood rushing
down my throat to revitalize my flesh.

Finished, I released him and he fell to
his knees, his head bowed.

“You may go now,” I said, licking my
lips and savoring the flavor of his blood.

Once he had departed, I strode toward
my new bedroom, flushed with life and restored. Magda arrived soon
after Enre departed with several maids trailing behind her carrying
buckets of hot water. They filled the bronze bath in my room as
Magda unpinned my hair. The maids cast furtive glances in my
direction before they left my room. Even though they had been
roused from their slumber to serve me, they seemed more interested
in me than irritated by the late hour. The last one to leave
curtsied before shutting the door.

“Do they know what I am?” I asked
Magda.

“I’m not certain, but from their
chatter it appears they are well aware that your husband is the
lover of the Baroness. I think they are a little scandalized by you
being her guest,” Magda answered.

Helping me out of my dress and
petticoats, Magda continued: “I had the distinct impression that
they are all in awe of Vlad and of you. I do not know if it is
because they know you are vampires or if it is merely because you
are a mysterious pair.”

“Servants talk. Soon all of Buda will
know I am here,” I mused.

“Most certainly by tomorrow night you
will have many inquiries into your stay,” Magda agreed.

As I finished disrobing, she checked
the warmth of the water. Satisfied, she poured a few oils and salts
that she had collected from my traveling case into the steaming
bath.

“I wonder how long it shall take for
Sir Stephan to come groveling out of his den,” I wondered
aloud.

Magda smirked. “Oh, I’m certain he
shall be here as soon as the sun sets.”

With a sigh of pleasure, I slid into
the bath. “Oh, it is heavenly to be here.”

“Enjoy your bath,” Magda said as she
gathered my discarded garments and hurried into her room where she
had my traveling trunks stored.

Closing my eyes, I sank deeper into the
hot water. Baths have always been my favorite indulgence. There was
a slight knock on the bedroom door and Adem’s voice called out my
name.

“Enter,” I said, not really caring if
he saw my nakedness or not.

Adem strode into the room then stopped
short as he saw me resting in my bath. He quickly spun on his heel,
facing away from me. “Forgive me. I thought you said to
enter.”

“I did,” I answered. Giggling, I
splashed water at him. “Are you blushing?”

“I have seen many things in Astir’s
haven, so no I am not. But I would like to be
respectful.”

I shrugged as I ran a sponge over my
legs. “I really don’t care, Adem. Conventions be damned. You are my
friend.”

“She’s being naughty,” Magda declared,
entering with my nightclothes. “She just fed and is in a very good
mood.”

“I’m not trying to seduce you, Adem. Am
I, Magda?”

“No, she’s not.” Magda appeared amused
by Adem’s discomfort. She began to wash my hair, her nimble fingers
a joy.

Adem slowly relaxed and took a seat at
my vanity. His exhaustion was etched into his scarred face and he
suppressed a yawn. “Katya is at the haven and despite her temper
tantrums, seemed relatively happy with her new surroundings when I
departed.”

“Is Astir at the haven?” I
asked.

“He has returned, but had very little
to say. At least to me.” Adem plucked his turban from his head and
ran a hand over his curly hair. He also looked unusually weary and
I wondered again if Astir’s magic had sapped us all.

“I wish to see him as soon as possible.
There is much I wish to discuss with him. Could you deliver a
message for me tomorrow evening requesting a meeting?”

“Of course.” Adem paused, gathering his
thoughts, before continuing. “May I ask what you plan to do with
the Baroness? I know you have no love for Vlad’s
minions.”

Magda rinsed my hair as I pondered how
I should word my answer. My plan was still taking shape in my mind,
but I knew the crux of it. “I have yet to decide her exact fate.
For the moment I need her assistance in establishing my presence in
the city once again. But once I am done with her, she will
die.”

“Vengeance does not always bring
satisfaction,” Adem warned, concern filling his voice.

“No. Not always. But I crave it like
blood. I could not save my family, but I can serve justice in their
names.” My good mood was significantly diminished by his words. I
did not want to be dissuaded from punishing those who had destroyed
my family.

I rose from the water and Magda swept a
towel about me, covering my nakedness. From Adem’s expression, it
was clear he was more concerned about my plans than my
nudity.

“What of Sir Stephan?” he asked. “How
will you avenge your family?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” I
confessed.

“You do not think he will suspect
you?”

“If he does, I will beguile him. He
lusts me. I will use that against him,” I said in a dark tone
remembering when he had attempted to kiss me.

Adem crossed his arms over his broad
chest, reflecting on my words.

“I will not rush into any of my plans,”
I swore. “I shall take my time. I do not want to repeat the
mistakes of my past.”

Adem slowly exhaled. “I shall do what I
can to assist you.”

“And keep her from foolishness,” Magda
murmured.

“Magda!” I protested.

She just smiled while she helped me
into my nightgown.

“You’re a wily young woman,” Adem said
as he stood.

“Is that a compliment?” I arched my
brow at him.

“Of course. But with youth comes
naiveté. That is best remembered.”

Far too aware of my faults, I sighed.
“I will call upon you to give me sage wisdom and
guidance.”

“And I will be here.”

I hesitated before continuing, but I
felt I could draw him into my confidence even further. “Adem, you
know of Father Ignatius, do you not?”

“Yes, I do.”

Magda’s hands paused as she tied the
ribbons of my gown.

I could see the warning in her eyes,
but I could not restrain myself. “If you see him in the city,
please let me know immediately.”

“I was not aware that he is a friend of
yours considering his past with Vlad,” Adem responded.

“He is dear to me,” I
confessed.

Adem’s eyes searched my face and he
slightly nodded. “I understand. Should I see him, I shall inform
you immediately.”

“You may go now,” I said
softly.

“Until tomorrow night,” he said with a
bow and left.

“Do not chide me!” I said defensively
before Magda could open her mouth.

“All your secrets will be laid out
before the entire city of Buda if you do not tread carefully,”
Magda chastised me anyway.

“Adem will not betray me,” I said
stubbornly.

“Probably not, but you must be careful.
Astir is protecting you, but one day someone will uncover the truth
of what you have done.”

“And I shall be far from here with
Ignatius at my side,” I retorted as I crawled onto the bed. I
pushed Magda’s hand away as she attempted to tend to my hair. I was
feeling surly and lonely.

“I should brush your hair and curl it.
Tomorrow you will have visitors,” she said in a firm
tone.

“They will not be Ignatius so why
bother,” I groused.

Magda sighed.

“Very well!”

I darted from the bed and sat before
the vanity. There was no mirror and I was slightly impressed by the
Baroness’ forethought. I sat in grumpy silence as Magda tended to
my hair and slowly relaxed as her fingers expertly tidied up my
long locks.

At last I said, “Magda, why do you
think Vlad gave me his power?”

It was a question that haunted me. I
suspected it was to tie me to him, but perhaps I was wrong. I was
torn as I reflected on my last night with him. Though in my heart I
knew he had manipulated me, a part of me, that dark specter he had
infused into my soul, wanted to believe he had truly considered me
to be the worthy heir of his power.

“I believe he expects to return,” Magda
said at last. “Perhaps when the blow that struck him down was not a
killing one, he believed he would one day be freed from the coffin.
By you, or another servant.”

“He said he loved me,” I confessed. “I
believed him.”

“And now?”

I shook my head, tears suddenly
threatening. “No. Not now.”

“I believe you are wrong. In my time
with him he has loved other women. He brought ruin on all of them,”
Magda said, laying her hands lightly on my shoulders. “His love is
like fire. It consumes. It destroys. It is not born of a pure
heart, but out of evil need.”

“He has done something to me,” I
whispered. “I dream of him and it is terrible. I never want to feel
him touch me again, yet a dark aspect within me yearns for
him.”

“Do you want to go to him?”

“Never! Never again! I will choose whom
I love! Whom I take to my bed! Where I go! When I go! I will not
allow him to destroy me. I will have my freedom. I will have my
life! My love! My Ignatius!”

Magda sat beside me and took my hand.
“May I tell you a story?”

“Yes, please,” I answered.

“Vlad fell in love with a young woman
who was betrothed to another. Zsofia was very young and afraid of
him. But he seduced her using his power. He drank from her, lay
with her, forced her to drink his blood. The young man she loved
and was to marry grew suspicious of her growing malaise and ill
temper. So he hid away in Zsofia’s room and saw Vlad come to her in
the dark of night. He confronted Vlad. Vlad twisted his neck and
flung him out the window. All believed that the young man had tried
to seduce his love before their marriage and fell to his death when
she spurned him. Zsofia...she was so lovely...mourned deeply as
Vlad continued to drink her life away. He summoned her out of her
house while her family slept and took her to Astir’s haven. He
exposed her to debauchery like she had never imagined. Slowly,
Zsofia went mad as he stole away her life and soul.”

“What happened to her?”

“She died,” Magda said with a sigh.
“And rose again. Vlad was waiting for her to rise and brought her
back to the mansion. He trapped her in the house to keep her
presence from her grieving family, but she was dangerous. Zsofia
killed some of the servants, which enraged him. He beat her. She
raged at him.”

I shivered, remembering far too well my
own abuse at his hands.

“Zsofia tried to fight him. Tried to
fight what he had done to her. I could hear her weeping throughout
the night. He forced her to drink from him, binding her tighter and
tighter to him. And then one night, she no longer cried. She no
longer fought. He had achieved his goal and she wascompletely
enamored with him.” Magda touched my ring lightly. “This ring was
hers.”

Gazing down at my ring, I felt a cold
chill sweep through my flesh. “She was conquered.”

“Yes, and after a time he grew bored of
her and found another girl to love. He was going to take Zsofia to
the castle to join the other Brides. She was horrified to discover
there were other women, other Brides. She was heartbroken. In
despair, she set herself on fire and burned before our
eyes.”