Vampire - In the Beginning (Vampire Series Book 1) (5 page)

“Well it must be a very important guest?” I replied. Robert looked at me with a quizzical expression on his face.

“Why do you say that?” he asked. I laughed, not in joy, but more in a sarcastic burst of contempt.

“Well, Robert, I am sure you would not feel the need to talk to me personally when you have all your minions to do the task for you…I therefore conclude that your guest must be very important, you could of course always bewitch me, just as you do the servants!”

Robert looked at me intently, the sadness wiped away by an amused glint.

“So you have discovered how we acquire our faithful servants?” he said with a chuckle.

“Yes, and I wondered if you bewitched me into accepting your offer? It is logical that you would use this power to satisfy your whims!” This time Robert threw his head back and laughed.

“So you have concluded that I have bewitched you? Ah my poor little Gwen, does your conscience disturb you so much that you wish to find a reason why you decided to live rather than die?”

“It is not that at all!” I snap at him, “I would like to know if you used your powers in order to influence my decision?”

Quite unexpectedly, Robert reached out and tucked a stray curl of hair behind my ear. The feel of his fingers gently touching the skin on my neck caused the betrayal of my body, which shook in response to his touch.

Suddenly dropping his hand, he said in a gentle tone, “I believe that the belief that I have as you say ‘bewitched’ you, would make it easier for you to accept your position. Alas I cannot tell you a lie, Gwen, I have never bewitched you, and I never would, the decision was yours and yours alone.”

My head dropped onto my chest, and the realization hit me that I did in fact, just as Robert had stated, want the guilt of my decision lifted from my shoulders. I felt immense guilt because of my decision, and I wanted to rid myself of that guilt by finding a better reason than choosing to live whilst the people I loved died.

Robert placed his finger under my chin and tilted my head up so that I was looking directly into his eyes.

“It took courage to choose the path you have, Gwen, many are so afraid to live that they would choose to die, others would choose to live but be unable to face the reality of the life of living with a colony of vampires. You chose to live; you chose not to let Tom’s and your own life be lived in vain, by not allowing your son to die, and you have stuck to your decision…that takes guts and determination!”

A tear made its way down my cheek as I noticed the admiration radiating from his beautiful, arrogant face.

“But I had no choice, you held the fate of mine and my son’s life in your hand…it is unfair that you should have the power to do that.” Robert wiped the tear from my cheek, and once more, I felt my body’s betrayal in the form of a shudder.

“Of course it is unfair, life is unfair, Gwen. After all, if you lived a normal life on the farm, you would still have people who hold power over you: the farmer’s wife, the farmer, your husband, the bailiff whom collects the taxes, and the local lord; that is life, Gwen!”

Of course, he was correct, none of us is truly in charge of our own destiny, and there is always someone higher to order our lives, unless of course you are the king. This thought returned me to the reason why Robert had sought me out and I said, “So who is the important guest?”

Robert smiled, I could tell by the relaxing of his shoulders that he was relieved that I had, he had decided, come to terms with my guilt.

“A man who is a very good friend of mine, Gwen,” he said as he rose to his feet, he then continued, “A human who in some ways can be compared with a vampire…you are to meet your lord and king, Gwen.”

I gasped in shock, and I heard Robert’s responding chuckle as he walked away from me. I could not believe it. A common maiden would in the coming weeks be entertaining the highest lord in the land, our good king Henry the Eighth, and not only that but I would at last be able to talk to normal humans – for the first time in months I was not only happy but excited – life was starting to get a lot better!

Chapter Eight

My excitement grew as the king’s visit came closer. I had a choice of gorgeous fabrics to choose from, to be sure that I had suitable gowns, and so that I did not look out of place when our important guest arrived. 

I was it seemed very lucky, in that although I was in my sixth month of pregnancy, I had not gained very much weight and my condition, although noticeable was not pronounced and unsightly. Robert had given me over to Matilda’s expertise for the choosing of the gowns, and I made my way to her quarters when the tailor arrived with the fabrics. I had never seen such fine materials, and watched in awe as Matilda chose the finest green velvet and muslins, threaded with gold and silver.

Finally, after she had chosen her materials and had talked at length with the tailor about the designs of her own gowns, she beckoned me to her with the words, “Come here, brood mare.” This was, it seemed, her preferred name for me, I did not protest, well there was no point. Matilda was a beautiful monster and could tear me limb from limb if she chose to do so.

She looked at me critically, her eyes straying from my face to my slightly protruding belly and back, her eyes then rested on my stomach for what seemed an age, and finally her cruel but mesmerizing eyes returned once more to my face. I straight away noticed that a ruthless snarl had twisted her sultry mouth into a thin line, and jealousy and anger shone from the depth of her glittering green eyes.

“So what colour do you imagine would suit you, dear brood mare?” she said in a sarcastic tone. I walked towards the table that the materials were spread out upon and let the richness fall through my hands in appreciation, I was instantly drawn towards the dark and light blue materials, knowing instinctively that with my dark hair and light blue eyes, these would be the colours that would suit me the most. Turning towards Matilda I said, “I would like the dark and light blue please, Matilda.”

A callous, sharp laugh escaped from her lips, and she said, “Oh, would you indeed? Well I’m sure that can be arranged, but,” she said turning towards the old but steely-eyed tailor, “She will have no adornments, she and the company we keep must remember that she is in a delicate condition, and of course she should never be allowed to overstep her station in life, which was, I believe, a lowly cow maid!” On ending her statement Matilda once more laughed, which it would seem signaled to the women present that they also must laugh, because each of them tittered in turn.

I felt my face flush at the obvious insult, and I stammered out, “Thank you”, whilst making my way rapidly to the door. I had thought that I had made it out of her quarters when suddenly I felt myself lifted by my throat off the floor and held up against the cold of the wall. Matilda’s face had changed into that of a monster, I recalled James’s face looking very similar on my very first encounter with him at the farm, but this was different, I knew that Matilda would love to see my demise, in fact she wished for it.

“Please be kind enough to remember that you shall address me as Lady Vanike…Little milkmaid, you shall regret it if you do not.” Her eyes blazed into my own, but they had changed from glittering green to a rather opaque jade, her fangs dripped with saliva, and the veins in her neck and face stood up and pulsed.

“Did you hear me, brood mare?” I nodded, and took a deep gasp of air as she loosened her grip and let me fall to the stone floor. She disappeared as quickly as she had appeared, and I heard her telling the women of my fear, and their delighted laughter in response to her tale. Slowly I got to my feet, and quickly made my way to my own room, the incident reaffirmed to me how careful I must be when I was around Matilda, and just how much she hated me. I knew I must always be on my guard, because the first chance she had she would take great delight in killing me.

Chapter Nine

The manor bustled with servant’s running back and forth, completing the last minute preparations for the imminent arrival of the royal party.

I, like almost everyone in the manor, waited in nervous anticipation for our important guests. I sat by my window, watching for the spectacle that was the arrival of the royal party; there were rumors that the procession of courtiers, servants, and squires stretched for at least a mile. Of course, the King and his young Queen Catherine Howard would be at the forefront of the procession; she was, according to the gossips, the most beautiful and gregarious of all of his brides. The king was getting older, and many said that he found it difficult to sit on a horse due to an open ulcer on his leg, which refused to heal, but he was still the King - the most powerful man in England.

I turned towards my finished gowns lying across the dresser, they were the most beautiful items I had ever owned, and once more, just like so many times in the previous days, I walked over and let the luxurious fabric fall through my hands. My imagination was once more working overtime, and over the last few days I had imagined myself as a beautiful fairy princess, waiting for my prince to return from war, but the most disturbing part of this daydream was that my prince’s face had lost the look of Tom and had started to resemble Robert. I was puzzling over this change in my thoughts, when the trumpets signaled a fanfare and rushing over to the window, I saw my first glimpse of the royal flag in the distance.

The procession made its way slowly towards the manor, the colours, noise, and the sight of so many people making their way behind the greatest man in England was breathtaking, and one I knew I would never forget. It was only as the royal party drew nearer that I noticed that the King looked old, and although he sparkled with jewels and the effect was mesmerizing, it was not difficult to see he was a large man who wasn’t comfortable and who was in pain, which was not only due to the heat of the afternoon sun.

I had already decided that I wouldn’t make my presence known until the banquet started in the great hall later in the day. I knew that Robert’s intention was to introduce me to the King, with the understanding that I was his mistress.  He wanted it known throughout England that I was carrying his child, he would then legitimize my son, and the child would become his heir. Matilda had argued against this, but Robert was adamant, and by doing so, he gave Matilda another reason to hate me, not that she needed another! For this reason, I intended to stay in the background throughout the proceedings, for I didn’t wish to anger her more than necessary.

I had a while before I needed to get ready and so I decided to rest on my bed and continue with my beautiful but disturbing daydreams. It seemed that only seconds had passed when I felt hands shaking me awake.

“Miss, miss…you must wake up…it is time to get ready!”

“What time is it?” I asked in a sleepy voice.

“Well, miss, they are starting to gather in the great hall, you will be late if you do not hurry!”

The significance of what the young girl said suddenly hit me. It would be very rude to enter the hall whilst the hosts and the King and Queen were eating, and jumping from the bed, I shook myself awake.

I washed the grime from my body and sprinkled myself liberally with rose water, even dousing my hair, which I brushed rigorously until it shone. I quickly dressed in my lightest blue muslin dress, which I knew became me very well, especially as my cheeks had a slight blush, the result of my haste in getting ready. I pulled just the sides of my hair into a plait away from my face, and secured them with a small gold clip at the back of my head, leaving the rest of my thick dark hair to shine and curl down the length of my back. I seized the hand-held polished metal, which served as a mirror, from my dresser, and scrutinized my looks. I looked, even to my own eyes, beautiful!  My skin shone with health and vigour, my eyes, lightened by the pale blue of my gown, shone and sparkled. I knew that I looked radiant, and I even dared to hope that I would rival Matilda. Throwing the mirror down on the dresser, I stepped into my pretty fabric slippers, and hastily made my way down to the great hall.

Chapter Ten

Although the great hall was huge, with so many people crammed into the space it seemed small and insignificant. As I made my way down the stairs I surveyed the room, and was pleased to see that Robert and Matilda were still introducing from a long line of people, those that they chose to present to the King and Queen. I noticed that the King barely registered those before him, and either talked to the Queen or surveyed the mountains of food that passed him on the way to the royal table.

I placed myself at the end of the line, hoping that I would be overlooked and dismissed with those who had failed to be presented to the royal couple. It wasn’t very long before I noticed a young man of around my own age had joined the line, and as I turned he smiled at me most graciously.