The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (44 page)

“The House of Gavril has gathered on
St. Andrew’s Eve to acknowledge the great victory over the House of
Baatar and the claiming of the city of Buda,” the little man
announced.

There were cheers from the vampires as
Laura and I sat upon a tomb to watch the proceedings.

“Magyar vampires once more rule Magyar
land!” Ilinca cried out, raising her fist above her head. “The
Mongolian invader is vanquished!”

More cheers and the three men who had
arrived together were especially rowdy. As I studied their
features, I concluded they were brothers. There was a wild element
to them that unsettled me, but I was even more keenly aware of the
white haired vampire studying me from her perch.

The small man motioned for silence.
“May we all remember this great victory as we continue forth in the
name of Gavril.”

“Hail Gavril!” the girl on the
mausoleum cried out.

The other vampires, perhaps a dozen in
all, echoed her words.

Though Gavril kept his expression
neutral, there was a bit of pride in his eyes. “We fought together
and were victorious. We lost some of our own in our battles, but we
shall remember them always. Jenci, call out the names of our fallen
brethren.”

The little man stood up and cleared his
throat. With sorrow in his voice, he announced those vampires who
had died. Of course, Laura and I did not recognize any of the
names, but the House of Gavril responded with great emotion. Each
name was repeated by the vampires once it was announced and wails
of despair erupted from some of those gathered. The emotion among
those congregated was more than I was accustomed to witnessing.
They tore at their hair and fell on their knees. As Jenci shouted
out a name, Ilinca would recount how they died.

“Lajos!” Jenci called out.

“Fell to the sword of Baatar, but
struck off the head of Baatar’s favored Bride!” Ilinca shouted
beside him.

“Juliana!”

“Fell to the teeth of an unknown
assailant, but killed four of Baatar’s guards!”

In the end, ten names were announced
and I realized the great loss the House of Gavril had suffered
taking over Buda. Tears of blood streaked the faces of the gathered
vampires.

Gavril stood and silence fell over the
graveyard. “We have lost our beloved brethren, but we are
victorious. Tonight we celebrate and mourn together as one family.
Together, we plan for our future. This is St. Andrew’s Eve, a
sacred night among us. Tonight you may ask of me what you desire.
Tonight we acknowledge our allies among us. Let us
begin.”

The vampire with the white hair stood
and approached. She was tall and quite slim, appearing more like a
ghost than vampire. She curtsied deep before Gavril.

“Rebeka, my first child, speak your
desire.”

Standing, she said, “I wish to make my
favored servant, Izsak, a noble member of the House of Gavril. He
fought bravely at my side and has guarded me well for thirty
years.”

Gavril and Ilinca exchanged glances,
then both nodded.

“Agreed, Rebeka. He may join us next
St. Andrews Eve as a member of the House of Gavril.”

“I thank you,” Rebeka answered, smiling
and returned to her seat.

The young girl dropped down from above,
landing in the snow. Dressed in the coat and gown of a child, she
was very small compared to Gavril. Her black hair fell to her waist
in a tangle of curls.

“Zsa Zsa,” Gavril said with a slight
smile “my second child. What do you desire?”

“I desire no progeny. I wish to have
the head of Baatar.”

Gavril seemed surprised by this
ghoulish request and glanced at Ilinca.

“It is only a broken skull,” Ilinca
remarked.

“I don’t care. I wish to bronze it and
place it upon a spike.” Zsa Zsa’s pink lips smiled sweetly. “As a
warning for any vampire who would dare come against us.”

“Ilinca?” Gavril deferred to his
sister. “What do you say?”

She shrugged. “Let her have it. I’m
sick of seeing it in our bedchamber.”

“It is yours, Zsa Zsa.”

The little girl grinned with delight.
Sliding to her tip toes, she kissed Gavril’s cheek as he leaned
down to her. Sauntering past me, she gave me a bit of a feral grin
before leaping onto a tombstone.

I am not a very patient person and have
no great love for ritual, but I was quite fascinated as each of the
vampires came forth to ask for favors from their Master and
Mistress. Most requested the right to make another vampire. Only
one was denied. It was one of the wolf brothers who had chosen a
mortal girl with no knowledge of the vampires.

“She'll go mad,” Ilinca informed the
crestfallen young man.

In the end, he was allowed to kidnap
her and make her into his blood concubine. This seemed to please
him though it angered me. Laura started to protest, but I silenced
her with a look.

Jenci stepped forward. “Now to declare
the allies of the House of Gavril!”

Ilinca strolled to the center of the
gathering. “Our allies will be treated with the utmost respect at
all times unless Gavril lifts his protection. First, in gratitude
for his assistance in destroying Baatar, Count Vlad Dracula. We
extend our hospitality to the House of Dracula as well. Joining us
tonight are Countess Dracula and her progeny, Laura. All members of
their household are under our protection.”

The vampires all bowed their heads in
our direction.

Nervously, I stood up, feeling the need
to acknowledge the moment. “I am humbled by your proclamation and
thank you.”

Gavril nodded curtly, but Ilinca’s
smile was warm.

“Second, we acknowledge Lord Astir. He
did not interfere with our war and was most helpful in securing our
allies.”

There was a flash of white light and
Astir stood before us. A white robe was draped over his tall form
and the flaming wings spreading out from his shoulders illuminated
the graveyard. The thick coils of his blond hair fell over his
shoulder as he bowed low before Gavril. Though his eyes were
nothing more than orbs of fire, I thought I caught a twinkle of
mischief in them.

“I am honored and delighted,” Astir
declared, and kissed Gavril’s hand.

“His haven will once more be opened not
only to our kind but the other supernaturals of the city,” Gavril
announced. “You may once more enjoy the entertainment he
provides.”

The wolf brothers let out howls of
delight and clapped each other on their backs.

Astir bowed to Ilinca before gliding
over to my side.

“Well played,” I said to him in hushed
tones.

“Wasn’t it?” Astir answered, kissing my
cheek.

“And last, we announce an official
envoy from the Immortal Beloved. She who gave birth to all of us
has requested that we embrace one of her favored progeny as her
voice in our city. Gavril and I have agreed to acknowledge this
request. May we introduce Father Ignatius.”

As he stepped into the clearing clad in
his long black coat, Ignatius’s dark blue eyes met mine.

I did not care who
witnessed my actions. I flung myself into his arms and kissed
him.

Chapter 29

“As always, a pleasure,”
Ignatius whispered, holding my hands.

I beamed at him, joy filling my heart.
The love in his eyes was a balm to my fretful mind. Abruptly, all
the fear and frustration of the last month dissipated under his
affectionate gaze. Gently, he took my hand and guided me to Laura
and Astir.

Astir watched the proceedings with
great interest from his perch upon a tomb. His robe and flaming
wings faded into more modest attire. He now appeared as a tall,
slightly feminine man wearing a long navy coat, black waistcoat,
white shirt, red trousers, and shiny black boots.

Laura watched Ignatius with great
interest as she latched onto my arm. With a slight nod of his head
to Astir, Ignatius turned to Gavril and Ilinca. Approaching them,
he was an impressive sight with his dark coat and black hair
flecked with snow.

Bowing his head, he said, “I gratefully
accept your gracious invitation into your city. The Immortal
Beloved extends her gratitude and affection to all her
children.”

Gavril also bowed his head, accepting
the blessing. “We are honored to have the benediction of one of the
first of our kind.”

“May she live forever,” Ilinca intoned
solemnly, curtseying.

All the vampires lowered their heads in
supplication to the unseen vampire. I followed suit as did
Laura.

Ignatius drew out a small gold box and
laid it at the feet of the siblings. Ilinca retrieved it with great
reverence. She opened it and withdrew a small, stoppered vial.
Within was a small portion of red liquid.

Ilinca’s eyes widened as she gasped.
Gavril mirrored her expression as he stepped to her side. The
vampires around me all fell to their knees, not daring to raise
their heads. Emulating their actions, Laura and I also
knelt.

“This is surely the greatest of
honors.” Gavril whispered.

“She is pleased with your discretion.
The mortals were never aware of the vampire war that waged around
them for nearly a year. Though she is always saddened by the loss
of our own, she is aware of Baatar’s atrocities.” Ignatius paused,
letting his words take effect. “She hopes that his legacy is now
dead in this city. Therefore, she has sent a gift to empower your
house.”

Ilinca held the crystal vial aloft for
all of her vampires to witness. “Rise, House of Gavril, and let us
remember this night when the Immortal Beloved blessed us with her
essence.”

Ignatius bowed his head, then joined
me. Ignatius’s hand enfolded mine. Lifting my head, I smiled at him
warmly. He kissed my forehead, then returned his gaze to the
ceremony before us.

The House of Gavril slowly gathered
around the siblings. Ilinca and Gavril placed one drop of the
Immortal Beloved’s blood upon their lips and kissed of each member
of their house. Each vampire licked the blood from their lips as
they solemnly formed a circle about their leaders. Finally, Gavril
placed the last of the blood upon his mouth, leaned over, and
kissed Ilinca.

It was in that moment I knew who
Ilinca’s forbidden love was without any doubt.

Their kiss was far from the chaste kiss
of siblings. I winced while attempting not to display any outward
signs of my disgust. I could never imagine kissing my brother
Andrew in such a manner. The passion between Gavril and Ilinca was
undeniable as was the tenderness of Gavril’s hands as he cradled
Ilinca’s face, yet the sight made me feel slightly ill.

Beside me, Laura widened her eyes while
Ignatius averted his.

The two vampires were lost in their
passion for a short time. When they parted it was with great
reluctance and their eyes did not stray from each other.

“Let us remember always this night...”
Gavril intoned.

Hearing their dismissal in his tone,
his progeny drifted away into the snowy night. As Zsa Zsa departed,
she touched Ignatius’s hand lightly, giggled, then her form melded
into a raven. On dark wings, she took flight and
vanished.

Rebekah and Jenci bowed their heads to
Ignatius as they strolled past us. Ignatius acknowledged them with
a slight smile. We followed the vampires into the night, leaving
Ilinca and Gavril in each other’s embrace.

During our return journey to the Dosza
Palace, we were seized with a playful spirit. Laura snatched snow
from a tree branch and lobbed it at me and Ignatius before dashing
off with a gleeful laugh. With a merry chuckle, Ignatius flung snow
after her, the cold white chunks showering her as she fled. I
snatched up handfuls of snow and chased her.

The three of us wound through the
trees, tossing snowballs, and laughing. It was a great pleasure to
see the two people I loved so much enjoying each other’s presence.
Gripping Laura’s hands, I spun her about. We tilted back our heads
and the stars above swirled around like a carousel. Our fingers
slipping free, we fell into the cold white drifts, giggling.
Ignatius reached down and plucked us from the snow.

Together, arm and arm, we walked toward
the palace.

“An introduction is required,” Laura
chastised me. Her face was flushed and she looked like the mortal
girl I had befriended.

“Laura, this is Ignatius, the great
love of my life. Ignatius, my fledgling, Laura.”

Ignatius bowed to Laura and kissed her
hand. His dark blue eyes studied her before he straightened. “Newly
born, I see.”

“I have much to tell you,” I
conceded.

“Yes, you do,” Ignatius agreed. His
tone was light, but the gravitas woven through it took a bite out
of my joy. Noticing the alteration of my expression, he drew me
close, kissed me, then swung me about.

My laughter returned and we plunged
through the falling snowflakes toward the palace.