Of Princes and Dragons: Book 2 (Lords and Commoners)

by Lynne Hill-Clark

  Vallachia put her hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Riddick.”

  Riddick shook his head and took a deep breath. This seemed to help him recover. “Of course, at the time I had no idea what or who had killed her. I could not fathom that one of the townspeople would have been capable of killing her. I convinced myself that it must have been an animal attack.”

  This sounded familiar. Humans often had no idea what to make of the senseless murders vampires left behind. “She was killed by a vampire?”

  Riddick nodded. “After their death I buried myself in work, as I still do, I suppose. As a carpenter, life was simple. Building was the only thing that made sense. Only a couple of days after coming home to find my wife’s bloodstained body, I was approached by a wealthy merchant named Leopoldo. He wanted me to build his new home. I was grateful for the vast amount of work it would take to build the manor he was requesting. He befriended me and I eventually came to trust Leo. It was not long before we became virtually inseparable. He helped to fill the large void in my life. Of course, looking back on it now it all makes perfect sense. After a year or so of gaining my trust, he finally revealed his true nature to me. He expected me to be scared, yet I was not. I was intrigued with the power he had. He spoke about being a vampire as if it was the best life possible. He essentially thought he was a god. He made it sound wonderful and I begged him to turn me. I wanted to be like him — a god. A human life no longer appealed to me. My hopes and dreams died with my wife. The strength and power that Leo had were appealing. In fact, it was beyond temptation. I thought a vampire life was the answer to all my problems. I believed that somehow I could exchange a pain filled human life for a carefree immortal one.”

  “So he turned you?” Val asked.

  “Aye, Leo gladly granted me my wish. Yet, he had not bothered to inform me about the need for human blood. This made the first couple of months as a vampire very difficult. I became even more depressed after my first kill. I felt like a fool, I had been seduced by the devil himself and did not see Leo for what he truly was until it was too late. After my first feeding, I also realized that it was a vampire who had killed Natalia. As I held a dead human in my arms with the same wounds on the neck that I had found on her body, I knew it had been the work of a vampire.”

  “Had Leopoldo killed her?” Val was sitting at the edge of her seat, anxious to hear more.

  “He convinced me that he had no idea who had killed her. I believed him — I wanted to believe him. In order to deal with this new life I found a way to not feel. I quickly became cruel and numb. This was a welcome reprieve from the pain of my human life. I was able to stop mourning for Natalia and our unborn child. Leo and I remained friends. He offered me a room in the workers’ quarters, which were many times nicer than my tiny home. After a year or so, I eventually moved into a large room in the manor itself. As more of the villagers came up missing or dead at our hands, the townspeople grew suspicious of us. We knew we had to be moving on soon.” Riddick gave Vallachia a weak smile. He found it endearing how completely enthralled she was in his story.

  “Please go on.”

  “Becoming a vampire increased my desire for power. I reveled in the strength and speed, it made me want more. My ambitions grew and I wanted to work my way to the top. I had an insatiable need to be the best. A small-town life made me restless. I was bored. Leo, on the other hand, was content. He wanted to find another remote area to settle in. I wanted to find a leader of our kind. I had heard rumors of a vampire lord in Constantinople. This led to an argument between Leo and me one night. ... ”

  Chapter 6 Outskirts of Venice 1223 A.D

  “We shall head for Rome,” Leopoldo said. “I know this charming little town outside the city. We can easily travel to Rome to feed, which will give us more prey to choose from. We will be able to go unnoticed.”

  “I plan to head for Constantinople,” Riddick said. “This thriving capital has the most to offer. It is full of riches and a powerful Vampire Lord; come with me if you wish.”

  Leo’s eyes flashed with anger. “You will not leave me! I made you. You will come to Rome with me.”

  Leo’s fury at the mention of going their separate ways took Riddick aback. “I will do as I please and it pleases me to see what awaits in Constantinople.”

  Riddick turned to leave but Leo appeared in front of him, his expression was full of worry. “There is no need to be greedy. I have plenty of wealth, enough for the both of us. What is important is that we stay together. Can’t you see?”

  Riddick was confused by Leo’s desperation. Leo was acting as if they were ... lovers!

  “Please don’t leave me!” Leo took Riddick’s hands.

  Leo’s strange behavior was concerning to say the least. They had become good friends but clearly Riddick meant more to him than that. Leo wanted to control Riddick — to own him. Riddick’s blood began to boil as his confusion gave way to anger. He pushed Leo away. “What has gotten into you?”

  “You can’t leave me. I have been alone for far too long. It took me ages to find you.”

  “What are you saying, Leo?”

  “I can’t believe you don’t see it. I’m in love with you. That is why I did what I had to do.” Leo’s voice was little more than a whisper.

  Riddick’s vision blurred. The world faded away. There was only an intense focus on the man standing in front of him. Riddick’s hand found Leopoldo’s throat. “What did you do, Leo!”

  Leopoldo shook his head and struggled in Riddick’s grip. Riddick slammed Leo against the wall, which cracked behind him. “Tell me!” Riddick’s face was only inches from Leo’s.

  “I killed your wife so we could be together,” Leo choked.

  Riddick’s vision completely burred. The world went dark, as if someone blew out the only lamp. “You killed them! I trusted you. I thought you were my friend!” Riddick sank his teeth into Leo’s neck tearing out a large piece of flesh. This made it easier to rip Leo’s head from his body.

  Chapter 7 Copenhagen 1354 A.D

  “I set Leopoldo’s manor ablaze and walked away, never looking back,” Riddick said. “That kind of betrayal is hard to comprehend. Someone I trusted — who claimed to care about me — only to learn he had killed my family. I became even more cruel and heartless after that. I did not trust anyone and would not let others get close. I feared they would only betray me. This attitude made it easy to quickly climb the ranks in Ramdasha’s coven. It suited my ambitions well. That was ... until you came along and changed everything.”

  Vallachia was speechless as Riddick finished his gruesome tale. She laid her head on his shoulder and in return he laid his head on hers. They said nothing for quite some time.

  “Thank you for telling me,” she whispered.

  Riddick looked into Val’s sparkly blue eyes. “Do you want to know why I’m so protective of you?”

  Val nodded.

  “Because the hardest part about losing Natalia was that I hated myself for not being there to save her. It was my job to protect her and I failed. I have vowed never to fail again. I will not let anything happen to you.”

  “Oh, my dear Riddick, I am not her. I’m not your wife and it is not your responsibility to protect me.”

  “I am well aware of that, though this protectiveness for you was why I could not let Ramdasha kill you and why I chose to kill my own men and leave Ramdasha for the Court.” Riddick paused as he struggled for the words. “It was as if by saving you I could somehow make up for my past failure.”

  “Riddick, my wonderful friend, there was nothing you could have done to save your wife. You were a human and the killer was a vampire. Her death was not your fault.”

  Riddick nodded in agreement but Val could tell he was not fully convinced. Perhaps his head knew that he was not to blame for Natalia’s death, yet his heart told him different.

  “Aye but I am a vampire now. Therefore, failure is not an option this time.” After a pause he added. “In the beginni
ng it was hell, having to watch you with the prince. It was like watching another man with my wife, it was almost more than I could bear. There was even a time or two when I thought about killing him.”

  “I cannot imagine. I wish you had told me sooner.”

  “Why? Would it have changed the way you feel about me?”

  “In a way, perhaps. I have trusted you for a long time. You have more than proven your allegiance to the Court. Yet, now I understand you better. You are like a brother to me.” Val put her arms around him.

  Riddick sighed. “That is all I will ever get from you, is it not?”

  “I am afraid so.” Val frowned.

  He pushed her away. “That is what I thought.” After a long pause, he added, “You know being here with you in the North has allowed me to become more like my old self, my human self.”

  Val smiled. “I’m glad for you. I like you much better this way. It has been a long time since you had to kill humans to survive. Perhaps this allowed you to regain your humanity.”

  Riddick had slowly recovered his compassion and morals over the past years, and he was no longer the ruthless vampire Val met over ninety years ago.

  Vampires must learn to let go of their conscience if they are to survive as killers. Once they become virtually emotionless, the killing no longer bothers them and they can be content with themselves. The problem is that this makes them callous, thirsty for power, greedy and vengeful. The image of Ramdasha came into Val’s mind, as this description fit him perfectly.

  “What is going on here?” came a voice from behind them.

  This brought Vallachia out of the ponderous state she had fallen into. She turned to find Elijah and gave him a smile. “Riddick was telling me ... a story.”

  “What kind of story?” Elijah asked with apprehension. He was not entirely sure he wanted to know what they had been discussing.

  “Do not make me tell that wretched story twice over, My Lady.” Riddick stood in order to put some distance between himself and Val.

  “The story is yours and yours alone. Tell it only when you wish and only to those whom you wish to hear it,” Val said.

  Riddick looked relieved. “Well then, I hope to never have to tell it again. You can be my storyteller.”

  “If that is your wish, I would be honored. Elijah really should know. It explains much about you.”

  Riddick nodded. “I don’t care whom you tell. All that matters is that you know.”

  Val gave him another hug. “Thank you.”

  Riddick was uncomfortable under Elijah’s concerned stare so he quickly retreated claiming he had work to attend to.

  Elijah crossed his arms. “What is going on?”

  “Riddick finally told me the story of his past. It is terrible and now I see why he tried so hard to bury it.” Then it dawned on Val. “How did you know I was here?” The armory was not a place she frequented.

  “John thought it was interesting how you went stalking about looking for Riddick early this morning. As you had never done this before, he thought it would be of interest to me.”

  Val narrowed her eyes at Elijah. “Then you came looking for me. Is John your spy?” This was concerning on a number of levels. Has John always been watching my movement in the castle? If so, why?

  “In a way, I suppose. He is a nosy little fellow. He knows everything that happens within these stone walls.”

  Val did not even try to hide her irritation. She had come to think of John as Lord Chastellain’s number-one minion. He virtually worshiped the lord. Now she saw him as a viper in the shadows — always lurking. The lord’s eyes and ears — ever present. It was infuriating that Elijah could have as many mistresses as he wanted and yet Val could not even talk with a friend without being followed — suspected even.

  “Am I not allowed to converse with an old friend in private? Riddick has become like a brother to me. He cares about me and I him,” Val said.

  “Of course you can. Don’t blame John, he is simply doing father’s bidding. He has been instructed that you and Riddick are not to be alone. Never mind the fact that that order was given almost one hundred years ago.”

  “And yet here you are — checking up on me.”

  Elijah nodded. “Yes, that is correct. I don’t want you to be with anyone else. I still want you for myself.”

  This lowered Val’s defenses. She gave him a weak smile and put her arm in his as they walked. “You should trust me.”

  “You are right, I should.” Elijah was not fully agreeing with her.

  “You also must hear Riddick’s story!”

  Chapter 8 London 1457 A.D

  For many years, Vallachia had secretly hoped that Teller would come for her. He could have easily found her, as everyone in the vampire world appeared to know who Vallachia was. As time passed it was no longer a secret, she admittedly dreamt of the day he would turn up looking for her. Yet time continued to slip away, day following day like each gentle wave slowly reshaping the shoreline. There was no news of Teller.

  After almost two hundred years — well, one hundred and ninety-six years to be exact but who was counting? — Val was beginning to think that it was a real possibility that Teller was dead. Surely by now he would have turned up in a vampire coven somewhere and they would have heard of him. Many times over the years she’d had the strong desire to search for him.

  On several occasions Val stumbled across false leads. She had searched for him, to no avail. At this point she did not know where to start to look for him. Perhaps he had wandered to the farthest reaches of the East. She had only heard tales of these strange and distant lands. Her home was now Copenhagen and at times still London. With the ongoing search for Ramdasha, she had too much work to do here to travel very far east. Continually working to gain and maintain alliances for the Court had become her life.

  The year was 1457 when she finally found Teller. She ran toward him. He turned slowly and gazed at her with a deadpan stare. Before she reached him, he transformed into a massive red dragon. His long teeth were about to engulf her. She woke with a sharp inhale. That horrid dream again!

  This was odd because Vallachia had not dreamt of Teller in a long time. It was incredibly real. For a moment she truly believed she had found him. Looking around to get her bearings, she remembered she was in Mary and Elizabeth’s room. She was visiting them in London. She stayed with them in their chambers in Lord Alexandru’s new castle, which was over a hundred years old. This was slightly awkward, as Mary and Elizabeth had become lovers.

  Vallachia had only been there a couple of days when Hector came to the door to inform her that her presence was needed back in Copenhagen.

  “Is everything well?” Val asked.

  “Yes, My Lady, it is simply an important diplomatic errand. Lord Chastellain says it requires your expertise.”

  “I will leave straightaway. Thank you, Hector.”

  “You’ve only just arrived,” Elizabeth complained.

  “Please do not look at me like that. You make me feel even worse,” Val said.

  “That is precisely the point.” Elizabeth gave Val a devious smile, one a child might make after getting away with stealing a forbidden sweet.

  “Surely you could get away with murder when you look at people in such a manner,” Val said.

  “Of course she can get away with murder. She is a vampire,” Mary scoffed.

  Val laughed. “Sorry I must be leaving already. This has been increasingly the case with the growing threat from Ramdasha. It seems I haven’t been able to spend as much time as I would like with you.”

  “Surely it is the young lord’s fault. Elijah can’t stand being away from you for too long,” Mary said.

  Val gave Mary a hard shove, tossing her onto the bed.

  Mary laughed heartily at Val’s irritation.

  “Since we are not to travel alone, perhaps you two can be my escorts back to Denmark?”

  In no time the three women were speeding through the air, quic
kly making their way eastward. Within the hour they landed on Vallachia’s balcony in Copenhagen. Mary and Elizabeth settled into Val’s quarters where they would be staying while they visited.

  Val headed straight for the Great Hall, only to find the lord and Elijah waiting. She greeted Elijah with a hug and a smile.

  Then to Chastellain she gave a slight bow and said, “What is it, My Lord?”

  “Have you heard of Prince Vlad of Wallachia?” The lord always went straight to business.

  “Yes, My Lord. He is said to be a merciless ruler who has recently risen to power. He has earned the nickname ‘the Impaler,’ as this is his most favored intimidation tactic.” Val paused. “Is he a vampire?”

  “Yes. We have been watching him for quite some time. He follows our laws, as it appears that no humans suspect that he is a vampire. His fortress is not far from our hometown. He married into the Draculesti family roughly one year ago and has used that name to take control of Wallachia. It is crucial that we gain his support. He has amassed large armies under his command, both human and vampire. He could be our most important ally and we must ensure that Prince Vlad does not side with Ramdasha. That is why I am sending my best. This is possibly your most vital mission to date. It may be dangerous so I want you to take extra men as well.”

  The usual entourage — Samuel, Riddick, Mary, Elijah and Val — as well as five of their top warriors set out for Wallachia at once. Mary often accompanied them on important or potentially dangerous missions. She had become the commander in chief of Lord Alexandru’s branch of the Court in London. She, quite literally, fought her way to the top with her superior combat skills.

  It was not long before they landed on a large terrace leading to an immense castle high in the Carpathian Alps. From here Vlad could keep watch over his kingdom to the south. To the north, the mountain ridges intertwined like the backs of a school of fish in shallow water. The closest mountains were a lush green and the distant mountaintops appeared to be a deep-sea blue. The sun shone through the clouds making the colors stand out and fade in multiple hues of greens and blues, creating a sense of motion.